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Digitized  by  th§  Internet  Archive 
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https://archive.org/detaiis/paysonsselectthoOOpays 


^kpu's  Irlcrt  (E'ljniig^ts; 


COMPRISING 


SELECTIONS  FROM  THE  WRITINGS 


EDWARD  PAYSON,  D  D. 


roup.  TEENTH  THOUSAND 


HARTFORD: 
DEOCKETT,  FULLER  &  CO. 
1851. 


AND 


CONVERSATIONS 


OF  THE  LATE 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the 
year  1833,  by  Crocker  &  Brewster,  in  the 
Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massa. 
chusetta. 


PREFACE. 


The  history  of  this  little  book  may  be 
given  in  a  few  words.  Soon  after  the 
publication  of  my  father's  Memoir,  the 
design  was  formed  of  preparing  a  small 
volume  of  selections  from  his  remem- 
bered conversations,  addresses  at  private 
meetings,  Bible  classes,  &c.  As  the 
materials  which  could  be  collected  in 
this  way  proved  entirely  insufficient, 
it  was  thought  best  to  complete  the 
work,  as  nearly  as  possible  in  conform- 
ity with  the  original  design,  by  making 
extracts  from  his  unpublished  discours- 
es ;  and  this  has  accordingly  been  done. 
In  regard  to  those  portions  which  were 
written  from  memory,  it  is  not  presumed 


4- 


PREFACE. 


that  the  precise  language  employed, 
has,  in  any  instance,  been  preserved. 
There  has  been  an  endeavor  to  secure 
variety  in  the  selections,  which  are 
arranged  with  reference  to  the  progress 
of  a  mind,  from  impenitence  and  unbe- 
lief, through  the  different  stages  of  con- 
viction, to  faith  and  confirmed  hope. 
None  of  the  extracts  have  before  ap- 
peared in  print.    They  are  given  to 
the  public  in  the  earnest  hope,  that 
they  may  be  instrumental  in  accom- 
plishing the  wish  so  often  expressed  by 
their  author,  that  he  might  "be  per- 
mitted to  do  good  with  his  pen,  when 
his  tongue  should  be  silent  in  death." 

L.  S.  P. 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

God  9.10 

Eternity  of  Ood   11 

Love  of  God   12 

Wisdom  of  nod   1'-^ 

Living  to  Cod   14 

Can  Creatures  plorify  God  ?   l'"" 

Reverence  for  God  16.  17 

Duty  of  loving  God   18,19 

Preferring  Creatures  to  God  20 

Excellence  of  God  21 

Submission  to  God  JS— 27 

Necessity  of  Submission  23 

Sin  of  Unbelief  29—31 

Human  Depravity   32 

Robbing  Cod   34 

Love  of  tlie  World  35,  36 

Neglect  of  the  Bible   37 

Neglect  of  Prayer  38,  39 

Forbearance  of  God  40,  41 

Man's  Dependence  42,  43 

To  the  Impenitent  44,  45 

God  angry  witlj  pinners  46,  47 

Motives  to  Repentance  48,  49 


Objections  answered  50 — 53 

Folly  of  Objectors  54,  55 

Insiifficienry  of  Reason   56 

Natural  Religion  57,58 

Folly  of  Olijectors  59 — 61 

Punishment  of  Sinners  62,  63 

No  Peace  to  Sinners   64 

Sinners'  Thoughts  painful  65,  66 

Satan's  Armor   67 

Grounds  of  false  Peace   68 

Conscience  69  71 

A  wounded  Spirit  72—74 

UnwiUinjiness  to  be  saved   75 

Excuses  answered  76,77 

Peace  in  Relieving  — 81 

Effects  of  Conversion  82—85 

The  Self-confident  86,87 

Christians  dissimilar  88 

Tests  of  Piety  89—91 

Fear  and  Hope   "2 

The  Law  honored  9:^—96 

Adam  our  Representative  97,  98 

Christ  bore  our  Sins   99 

Psalm  Ixxxv.  10,  11  100,  101 

Grounds  of  Pardon  102, 103 

Plans  of  Redemption  104,  105 

The  World  without  Christ  106,  107 

The  Gospel  glad  Tidings  108—110 

Christ  our  Example  111>  112 


COiNTENTS.  I 


Christ  a  Teacher   11^ 

Reasons  for  loving  Christ   IN 

Christ  the  best  Friend  115,  IIC 

Invitations  of  Christ   117 

Christ's  Displeasure  al  Sin  IIS,  113 

Death  of  Christ    190 

Sufferings  of  Christ  121,  122 

Love  of  Christ  123—125 

Self-denial  of  Christ   125 

Christ's  Keward  127—129 

Condescension  of  Christ  130 — isa 

Language  of  Penitence  133 — 135 

Communion  with  God  136 — 138 

Call  to  Christians  139—143 

Union  with  Christ  144,  145 

The  Christian's  Consolation  14C — 152 

Christ  unchangeable   153 

Christ  a  Helper  154,  155 

My  Beloved  is  mine   156 

The  Bible  entirely  practical   157 

Duty  of  studying  the  Bible   158 

Prayer  159-169 

Praise   162 

The  Lord's  Supper  163-165 

Relative  Duties  of  Christians  166 — 168 

Love  one  another   169 

Universal  Law  of  Benevolence  170,  171 

Duties  to  the  Heathen   172 

Eeligious  Consistency..,  —  ..173 — 177 


8 


CONTENTS. 


Christ  glorified  in  his  Church  178, 179 

MiscelUuieous  Directions  to  Christians....  180 
The  Way  to  cure  a  Covetous  Spirit. ..181— 183 

O  Dealli ;  where  is  thy  Sting.'  183 

To  tlie  Ministers  of  Christ  183—186 

Happiness  of  Heaven  186 — 190 

A  Jewel  for  your  Crown   190 

The  Doubting  comforted   191 

The  wounded  Dove   192 


SELECT  THOUGHTS. 


GOD. 

How  much  this  lille  implies,  no  tongue, 
human  or  angelic,  can  ever  express;  no 
mind  conceive.  It  is  a  volume  of  an  infinite 
number  of  leaves,  and  every  leaf  full  of 
meaning.  It  will  be  read  by  saints  and 
angels,  through  the  ages  of  eternity,  but 
they  will  never  reach  the  last  leaf,  nor  fully 
comprehend  the  meaning  of  a  single  page. 


Look  back  to  the  time  when  God  existed 
independent  and  alone ;  when  there  was 
nothing  but  God ;  no  heavens,  no  earth,  no 
angels,  no  men.  How  wretched  should  we, 
how  wretched  would  any  creature  bes  in 
such  a  situation !  But  Jehovah  was  then  in- 
finitely happy— happy  beyond  all  possibility 


JO 


GOD. 


of  increase.  He  is  an  overflowing  fountain, 
a  bottomless  and  shoreless  ocean,  of  being, 
[lerfpction,  and  happiness  ;  and  when  this 
infinite  ocean  overflows,  suns  and  worlds, 
angels  and  men,  start  into  existence. 


I  would  ask  you  to  pause  and  contemplate, 
for  a  moment,  this  wonderful  Being.  But 
where  shall  we  stand  to  take  a  view  of  him  7 
When  we  wish  to  contemplate  the  ocean,  we 
take  our  stand  upon  its  shore.  But  this  infi- 
nite ocean  of  being  and  perfection  has  no 
shore.  There  is  no  place  where  we  can 
stand  to  look  at  kim,  for  he  is  in  us,  around 
us,  above  us,  below  us.  Yet,  in  another 
sense,  there  is  no  place  where  we  may  not 
look  at  him,  for  he  is  ever3'  where.  We 
Bee  nothing  which  he  has  not  made,  no  mo- 
tion which  he  does  not  cause ;  for  he  is  all, 
and  in  all,  and  above  all,  God  over  all, 
blessed  forever.  Even  he  himself  cannot 
tell  us  fully  what  he  is,  for  our  minds  cannot 
take  it  in.  He  can  only  say  to  us,  I  am 
that  I  am.    I  am  Jehovah. 


ETERNIXy  OK  GOD. 


11 


ETERNITY  OF  GOD. 

Try,  for  a  moment,  to  conceive  of  a  Being 
without  a  beginning ;  a  Being  who  does  not 
become  older  as  ages  roll  away.  Fly  back, 
in  imagination,  millions  of  millions  of  millions 
of  years,  till  reason  is  confonndcd,  and  fancy 
wearied  in  the  flight.  God  then  existed,  cind, 
whatmay  at  first  appear  paradoxical,  he  had 
then  existed  as  long  as  he  has  now  ;  you  would 
then  be  no  nearer  ihe  beginning  of  his  exist- 
ence than  you  are  now,  for  it  has  no  begin- 
ning, and  you  cannot  approach  to  that  which 
does  not  exist.  Nor  will  his  being  ever 
come  to  an  end.  Add  together  ages  of 
ages;  multiply  them  by  the  leaves  on  the 
trees,  the  sand  on  the  sea-shore,  and  the 
dust  of  the  earth,  still  you  will  be  no  nearer 
the  termination  of  Jehovah's  existence,  than 
when  you  first  began.your  calculation.  And 
let  us  remember  that  the  duration  of  his  ex- 
istence is  the  only  measure  of  our  own.  As 
it  respects  futurity,  we  are  all  as  immortal 
as  Jehovah  himself. 


12 


I.OVK  OK  GOD. 


LOVE  OF  GOD. 

In  (lie  words,  "  God  is  love,"  we  have  a 
perfect  portrait  of  tlie  eternal  and  incompre- 
hensible Jehovah,  drawn  by  his  own  unerring 
hand.  The  mode  of  expression  here  adopt- 
ed, differs  materially  from  that  usually  em- 
ployed by  the  inspired  writers,  in  speaking 
of  the  divine  perfections.  They  say,  God 
is  merciful,  God  is  just,  God  is  holy ;  but 
never  do  they  say,  God  is  mercy,  God  is 
justice,  God  is  holiness.  In  this  instance, 
on  the  contrary,  the  apostle,  instead  of  say- 
ing, God  is  loving,  or  good,  or  kind,  says, 
God  is  love,  love  itself.  By  this  expression 
we  must  understand  that  God  is  all  pure, 
unmixed  love,  and  that  the  other  moral  per- 
fections of  his  character  are  only  so  many 
modifications  of  this  love.  Thus  his  justice, 
his  mercy,  his  truth,  his  faithfulness,  are  but 
so  many  different  names  of  his  love,  or 
g'oodness.  As  the  light  which  proceeds 
from  the  sun  may  easily  be  separated  into 
many  different  colors,  so  the  holy  love  of 


WISDOM  OF  GOD. 


13 


God,  which  is  the  light  and  glory  of  his 
nature,  may  be  separated  into  a  variety 
of  moral  attributes  and  perfections.  But, 
though  separated,  they  are  still  love.  Ilis 
whole  nature  and  essence  are  love;  his  will, 
his  works,  and  his  word,  arc  love ;  he  is 
nothing,  can  do  nothing  but  love. 

WISDOM  OF  GOD. 

Often  when  the  church  thinks  itself  in  the 
most  imminent  danger,  when  its  friends  are 
ready  to  cry  in  despair.  All  these  things  are 
against  us,  our  destruction  is  inevitable; 
angels  are  lost  in  wonder  in  view  of  the 
means  which  divine  wisdom  is,  even  then, 
employing  to  effect  its  deliverance  and  turn 
its  despondency  into  triumph.  For  some 
thousands  of  years  they  have  been  contem- 
plating this  spectacle  ;  their  knowledge  and 
their  admiration  of  God's  wisdom  have  been 
continually  increasing,  and  yet  every  day 
they  learn  something  new,  every  day  they 
see  new  proofs  that  Jehovah  is  indeed  the 
all-wise  God;  that  his  resources  are  inex- 


u 


LIVING   TO  GOD. 


haustible ;  that  he  can  never  be  at  a  loss ;  and 
(hat  he  can  effect  the  same  oliject  in  num- 
berless different  ways,  and  by  the  use  of  the 
most  improbable  means. 

DOT!  OF  LIVING  TO  THK  GLORY  OF  GOD- 

We  were  created  and  redeemed  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  praising-  and  glorifying  our 
Creator ;  and  if  we  refuse  or  neglect  to  do 
this,  we  transgress  the  great  law  of  creation, 
frustrate  the  end  of  existence,  leave  unper- 
formed the  work  for  which  we  were  made, 
and  do  all  in  our  power  to  prove  that  we 
were  created  in  vain,  and  to  cause  God  to 
repent  of  having  made  us.  Should  the  sun 
refuse  to  shine;  should  the  showers  refuse  to 
descend ;  should  the  earth  refuse  to  bring 
forth  food ;  or  should  trees  in  a  fruitful  soil 
continue  barren — would  you  not  say  that  it 
was  contrary  to  nature  and  to  the  design  of 
their  creation ;  and  that  since  they  no  longer 
fulfilled  this  design,  they  might  properly  be 
reduced  to  nothing  again?  And  do  you  not 
see  that  while  you  refuse  to  praise  God,  youi 


CAN   CRKATURKS   CLORIFV   GOD.  15 


conduct  is  equally  unnatural,  and  that  you 
may  justly  be  made  the  monuments  of  his 
everlasting-  displeasure  ?  What  would  only 
be  unnatural  in  inanimate  creatures,  is  the 
Iteififht  of  folly  and  wickedness  in  us  ;  be- 
cause we  are  capable  of  knowing  our  duly, 
and  are  under  innumerable  obligations  to 
practise  it.  Let  the  sun  then  refuse  to  shine, 
the  showers  to  descend,  and  the  earth  to  be 
fruitful ;  but  lei  not  rational  creatures  refuse 
to  praise  their  Creator,  since  it  is  the  purpose 
for  which  they  were  created. 

HOW  CAN  CREATDRES  GRORIFY  GOD? 

If  it  be  asked  how  creatures  so  feeble  and 
ungrateful  as  we  are,  can  glorify  God,  I 
answer,  by  conducting  in  such  a  manner  as 
naturally  tends  to  make  him  appear  glorious, 
amiable  and  excellent  in  the  view  of  his 
creatures.  A  son,  for  instance,  honors  his 
parents,  when  he  evidently  loves,  reverences, 
confides  in,  and  obeys  them ;  because  such 
conduct  tends  to  make  those  who  know  him 
think  favorably  of  his  parents.    A  subject 


16 


RKVKRENCK  FOR  GOD. 


honors  his  sovereign  when  he  cheerfully 
submits  lo  his  authority,  and  appears  to  be 
contented  and  happy  in  his  government; 
because  tliis  lends  to  give  others  a  favorable 
opinion  of  his  sovereign.  So  men  honor 
and  glorify  God,  when  they  show  by  their 
conduct  that  they  consider  him  the  most 
perfect  and  best  of  beings,  and  love,  reve- 
rence and  confide  in  him  as  such ;  for  these 
things  naturally  tend  lo  excite  a  high  esti- 
mation of  God,  in  the  minds  of  their  fellow 
creatures. 


REVERENCE  FOR  GOD. 

With  what  profound  veneration  does  it 
become  us  to  enter  the  presence,  and  to 
receive  the  favors  of  the  awful  Majesty  of 
heaven  and  earth !  And  how  ought  we  to 
dread  grieving  or  offending  goodness  so 
great,  so  glorious,  so  venerable!  To  illus- 
trate this  remark,  suppose  that  the  sun, 
whose  brightness,  even  at  this  distance,  you 
cannot  gaze  upon  without  shrinking,  were 
an  animated,  intelligent  body ;  and  that,  with 


REVERENCE  FOR  GOD.  17 

a  design  lo  do  j  ou  good,  he  should  leave 
his  place  in  the  heavens,  and  gradually 
approach  you.  As  it  drew  more  and  more 
near,  its  apparent  magnitude  and  eflulgence 
would  every  moment  increase ;  it  would 
occupy  a  larger  and  larger  portion  of  the  vis- 
ible heavens,  until  at  length  all  other  objects 
would  be  lost,  and  yourselves  swallowed  up 
in  one  insufTerably  dazzling,  overpowering 
flood  of  light.  Would  you  not,  in  such  cir- 
cumstances, feel  the  strongest  emotions  of 
awe,  of  something  like  fear?  Would  a 
knowledge  that  the  glorious  luminary  was 
ai>proaching  with  a  benevolent  design  for 
your  good,  banish  these  emotions  ?  What, 
then,  ought  to  be  the  feelings  of  a  sinful 
worm  of  ihe  dust,  when  the  Father  of  lights, 
the  eternal  Sun  of  the  universe,  who  dwells 
in  the  high  and  holy  place,  and  in  the  con- 
trite heart,  stoops  from  his  awful  throne,  to 
visit  him,  to  smile  upon  him,  to  pardon  him, 
to  purifj'  him  from  his  moral  defilement,  to 
adopt  him  as  a  child,  to  make  him  an  heir 
of  heaven,  lo  take  possession  of  his  heart  as 
Ins  earthly  habitation  ? 
2 


13  DUTY  OF  LOVING  GOD. 


DUTY  OF  LOVING  GOD. 

We  ought  to  love  God  because  he  has 
given  us  the  power  to  love.  He  might  have 
formed  us  gloomy,  morose,  misanthropic 
beings,  destitute  of  all  the  social  affections  ; 
without  the  power  of  loving  any  object,  and 
strangers  to  the  happiness  of  being  beloved. 
Should  God  withdraw  into  himself,  not  only 
all  the  amiable  qualities  which  excite  love, 
but  the  very  power  of  loving,  would  vanish 
from  the  world,  and  we  should  not  only,  like 
the  evil  spirits,  become  perfectly  hateful,  but 
should,  like  them,  hale  one  another. 


Every  object  which  can  be  presented  to 
us  has  a  claim  on  our  affections  correspond- 
ing to  its  character.  If  any  object  be  admi- 
rable, it  possesses  a  natural  and  inherent 
claim  to  our  admiration  ;  if  it  be  venerable, 
it  has  a  claim  to  our  reverence ;  if  it  be 
terrible,  it  demands  our  fear ;  if  it  be  beauti- 
ful and  amiable,  it  claims  and  deserves  our 


DUTY  OF  LOVING  GOD. 


19 


love.  But  God  is  perfectly  and  infinitely 
lovely;  nay,  he  is  excellence  and  loveliness 
itself.  If  you  doubt  this,  ask  those  who  can 
tell  you.  Ask  Christ,  who  is  in  the  bosom  of 
the  Father,  and  he  will  tell  you  that  God  is 
infinitely  lovely.  Ask  the  holy  anjels,  who 
dwell  in  his  immediate  presence,  and  they 
will  tell  you  that  he  is  lovely  beyond  all  that 
even  angelic  minds  can  conceive.  Ask  good 
men  iu  all  ages,  and  they  will  lament  that 
they  cannot  tell  you  how  amiable  and  ex- 
cellent Jehovah  is.  Ask  every  thing  beautiful 
and  amiable  in  the  universe,  and  it  will  tell 
you  that  all  its  beauty  is  but  a  faint  reflec- 
tion of  his.  If  all  this  does  not  satisfy  you, 
ask  the  spirits  of  disobedience ;  and  they, 
though  filled  with  malice  and  rage  against 
him,  will  tell,  if  you  can  constrain  them  to 
speak,  that  the  Being  they  hate  is  lovely, 
and  that  it  constitutes  the  essence  of  theii 
misery  that  they  can  find  no  blemish  in  his 
character.  But  if  God  be  thus  infinitely 
lovely,  we  are  under  infinite  oliligations  to 
love  him;  obligations  from  which  he  himself 
cannot  release  us  but  by  altering  his  charac« 
ter,  and  ceasing  to  be  lovely. 


EXCKLLtNCE  OF  GOD. 


KOLLT  OF    PREFERRING  CREiTCRES  TO 
GOD. 

Would  you  not  consider  a  person  foolish 
and  absurd,  who  should  extravagantly  love 
and  prize  a  drop  of  sla^naiil  water,  and  yet 
view  the  ocean  with  indifference  or  disgust  ? 
or  who  should  constantly  grovel  in  the  dust 
to  admire  a  shining  grain  of  sand, yet  neglect 
to  admire  the  sun  which  caused  it  to  shine  ? 
Of  what  folly  cuid  absurdity,  then,  are  we 
guilty,  w  lien  we  love  the  imperfectly  amiable 
qualities  of  our  fellow  worms,  or  admire  the 
sublimity  and  beauty  of  the  works  of  nature, 
and  yet  exercise  no  love  to  him  to  whom 
they  are  indebted  for  all ;  him  whose  glory 
gilds  the  heavens,  and  from  whom  angels 
derive  every  thing  that  can  excite  admiration 
or  love. 

GOD  THE  ONLY  SOURCE  OF  EXCELLENCE. 

God  only,  the  Father  of  lights,  from  whom 
Cometh  down  every  good  and  perfect  gift. 


EXCELI.F.NCE  OF  GOD. 


makes  one  creature  to  differ  from  another. 
They  are  wise  only  by  his  wisdom,  strong  in 
his  strength,  and  good  in  liis  goodness.  He 
is  more  entirely  tlie  Author  of  every  thing 
good  in  heaven  and  on  earth,  than  the  sun  is 
the  author  of  that  image  of  himself  which  is 
seen  in  a  mirror.  When  creatures  acknowl- 
edge this,  and  ascribe  all  the  excellences 
they  possess  to  liim  alone,  they  then,  in  the 
language  of  Scripture,  bring  forth  fruit,  not 
to  themselves,  but  to  his  glory. 


God  is  the  source  of  every  thing  excellent 
or  praiseworthy  in  the  intellectual  world. 

4  To  him  angels  and  men  are  alike  indebted 
for  all  their  faculties.  Reason,  memory, 
wit, prudence,  invention  and  imagination,  are 

I  only  his  gifts.  The  statesman,  the  warrior, 
the  mathematician,  the  poet,  the  orator,  the 
historian,  the  astronomer,  the  painter,  and 
the  sculptor,  all  were  formed,  inslructed  and 
directed  by  him.  Ry  his  assistance,  all  the 
great  enterprises,  splendid  achievements 
and  admirable  works  which  the  world  ever 


SUBMISSION  TO  GOD. 


saw,  were  performed.  It  is  he,  sa3's  David, 
who  teaches  my  hands  to  war,  and  my 
fingers  to  fight.  It  was  he  who  guided 
Columbus  to  the  discovery  of  this  new  world. 
It  was  he  who  inspired  our  fathers  with  wis- 
dom and  courage  to  cross  tlie  ocean  and 
settle  in  this  wilderness.  It  was  he  who 
qualified  our  revered  Washington  for  the 
great  work  of  delivering  his  country,  and 
assisted  him  in  its  accomplishment.  And 
while  we  admire  the  giAs  of  God  in  men, 
shaW  we  not  admire  the  Giver  ?  \\1iile  we 
admire  the  achievements,  enterprises  and 
•vorks  of  men,  shall  we  not  admire  him  who 
enabled  men  to  perform  them  ?  Shall  we 
rest  in  streams,  and  admire  them  onh',  with- 
out praising  the  fountain?  Surely  this  is 
highly  unreasonable. 


DUTY  OF  SUBMISSION  TO  THE  WILL  OF 
GOD. 

Suppose  that  the  members  of  our  bodies, 
instead  of  being  controlled  by  the  will  of  the 
liead,  had  each  a  separate,  independent  will 


of  its  own  :  would  ihey  not,  in  this  case,  be- 
come useless  and  even  mischievous?  Some- 
thin-  like  this,  you  are  sensible,  occasionally 
lakes  place.    In  certain  diseases,  the  mem- 
bers seem  to  escape  from  the  control  of  the 
will  and  act  as  if  they  were  governed  by  a 
separate  will  of  their  own.  When  this  ,s  the 
case  terrible  consequences  often  ensue.  The 
teeth  shut  suddenly  and  violently,  and  lacer- 
ate the  tongue  ;  the  elevated  hands  beat  the 
face  and  oiher  parts  of  the  body ;  the  leet 
refuse  to  support  it,  and  it  rolls  in  the  dust,  a 
melancholy  and  frightful  spectacle.  Such 
effects  we  call  convulsions.    There  arc  con- 
vulsions  in  the  moral  as  well  as  in  the  natural 
world,  and  they  take  place  when  the  w,  1  ol 
man  refuses  to  be  controlled  by  the  will  of 
God.    Did  all  men  submit  cordially  to  his 
will  they  would  live  together  in  love  and 
harmony,  and,  like  the  members  of  a  heallhy 
body,  would  all  promote  each  other's  wel- 
fare  and  that  of  the  wliolc  system.  But 
ihey  have  refused  to  o1>ey  his  will,  and  have 
set  up  their  own  wills  in  opposition  to  it ;  an  1 
what  has  been  the  consequence?  Cor.vul- 


SUBMISSION  TO  GOD. 


sions,  most  terrible  convulsions,  which  have, 
in  ten  thousand  thousand  instances,  led  one 
member  of  this  g'reat  body  to  injure  another; 
and  not  only  disturbed  but  almost  destroyed 
the  peace  of  society.  What  are  wars,  in- 
surrections, revolutions  1  MTiat  are  robberies, 
piracies,  murders,  but  convulsions  in  the 
moral  world  ?  convulsions  which  would 
never  have  occurred  had  not  the  will  of  man 
refused  to  submit  to  the  will  of  God.  And 
never  will  these  con\Tilsions  cease,  never 
will  universal  love,  and  peace  and  happiness 
prevail,  until  the  rebellious  will  of  man  shall 
again  submit  to  the  controlling  will  of  God, 
and  his  will  shall  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in 
heaven. 


If  all  mankind  could  be  persuaded  to  say, 
Not  as  I  will,  but  as  thou  wilt,  as  sincerely 
as  Christ  said  it,  sin  would  that  moment 
cease  to  e.\ist  in  the  world,  God  and  men 
would  be  perfectly  reconciled,  and  his  will 
would  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven. 
Yes,  let  every  humctn  being  only  say  to  God, 


SUBMISSION  TO  GOD. 


with  his  whole  heart,  Not  niy  will  but  thine 
be  done,  and  holiness  and  happiness  would 
instantly  fill  the  world ;  men  would  be  im- 
bodied  angels,  and  earth  would  become  a 
sublunary  heaven. 


I  look  up  to  heaven,  and  there  see  tho 
blessed  and  only  Potentate,  the  Creator  and 
Upholder  of  all  things,  the  infinite  and  eter- 
nal  Sovereign  of  the  universe,  governing  his 
vast  kingdom  with  uncontrollable  power,  in 
a  manner  perfectly  wise,  and  holy,  and  just, 
and  good.  In  this  Being  I  see  my  CrcaK.r, 
my  Preserver,  my  unwearied  Benefactor,  to 
whom  I  am  indebted  for  every  thing  which 
I  possess.  And  what  does  this  being  see, 
what  has  he  seen,  in  me?  He  sees  a  frail 
worm  of  the  dust,  who  is  of  yesterday,  and 
knows  nothing,  wlio  cannot  take  a  single 
step  without  making  mistakes,  who  is  wholly 
incompetent  to  guide  himself,  and  who,  by 
his  own  folly,  is  self-destroyed.  He  has 
seen  this  frail,  blind,  erring  worm,  presump. 
tuously  daring  to  criticise  and  censure  tjis 


26 


SUBMISSION  TO  GOD. 


proceedings,  to  interfere  in  his  government 
of  the  universe,  and  to  set  up  his  own  per- 
verse will  against  tlie  will  of  his  Creator,  his 
Sovereign,  and  his  God  ;  his  own  ignorance 
against  divine  omniscience,  and  his  own 
folly  against  infinite  wisdom.  This  he  has 
seen  in  me,  and  this  he  has  seen  in  you; 
and  who,  that  believes  God  has  seen  this  in 
him,  can  avoid  feeling  overwhelmed  with 
sorrow,  and  shame,  and  remorse?  We 
may  say  what  we  please  of  the  difficulty  of 
repenting,  but  it  would  seem  to  be  a  thou- 
sand fold  more  difficult  to  refrain  from  re- 
penting, aficr  having  been  guilty  of  conduct 
like  this.  O,  then,  come  and  perform  this 
easy,  this  most  reasonable  duty.  Come, 
and  repent,  before  God,  of  your  disobedience 
and  opposition  to  his  will,  receive  through 
Christ  a  free  and  gracious  pardon,  and  then 
learn  of  him  who  was  meek  and  lowly  in 
heart,  to  say,  Father,  not  my  will,  but  thine, 
be  done.   

Should  an  angel  who  knew  nothing  of  our 
characters,  but  who  had  heard  of  the  bless- 


SUBMISSION  TO  GOD. 


27 


ings  which  God  has  bestowed  on  us,  visii 
this  world,  would  he  not  expect  to  find  every 
part  of  it  resounding  with  the  praises  of  God 
and  his  love  ?  Would  he  not  expect  to  heai 
old  and  young,  parents  and  children,  all 
blessing  God  for  the  glad  tidings  of  the 
gospel,  and  crying,  Hosanna  to  the  Son  of 
David?  How,  then,  would  he  be  grieved 
and  disappointed  !  How  astonished  to  find 
that  Being  whom  he  had  ever  heard  praised 
in  the  most  rapturous  strains  by  all  (he 
bright  armies  of  heaven,  slighted,  disobeyed., 
and  dishonored,  by  his  creatures  on  earth ! 
Would  you  not  be  ashamed,  would  3  0U  not 
t)lush  to  look  such  a  visiter  in  the  face  ?  to 
lell  him  how  little  you  have  done  for  God, 
lell  him  that  you  are  not  one  of  his  servants  7 
O,  then,  let  us  strive  to  wipe  away  this  foul 
etain,  this  disgrace  to  our  race  and  our 
world.  Let  not  this  world  be  the  only 
place,  except  hell,  where  God  is  not  praised. 
Let  us  not  be  the  only  creatures,  exce(>t 
devils,  who  refuse  to  praise  him. 


28 


NF.CKSSITY  OF  SUBMISSION. 


ALL  MEN  THE  SUBJECTS  OF  CHRIST. 

The  subjecls  of  Christ's  mediatorial  king- 
dom are  divided  into  two  grand  classes — 
those  who  are  obedient,  and  those  who  are 
rebellious.  The  former  class  is  composed 
of  good  men  and  angels,  the  latter  of  wicked 
men  and  devils.  The  former  serve  Christ 
wilhngly  and  cheerfully.  lie  rules  them 
wlh  the  golden  sceptre  of  love;  his  law  is 
written  in  their  hearts  ;  they  esteem  his  yoke 
easy  and  his  burden  light,  and  habitually 
execute  his  will.  All  the  bright  armies  of 
heaven,  angels  and  archangels,  who  excel 
in  strength,  are  his  servants,  and  go  forth  at 
his  command,  as  messengers  of  love,  to 
minister  to  the  heirs  of  salvation,  or  eis  mes- 
sengers of  wrath  to  execute  vengeance  on 
his  enemies.  Nor  are  his  obedient  subjects 
to  be  found  only  in  heaven.  In  this  world, 
also,  the  standard  of  the  cross,  the  banner 
of  his  love,  is  erected,  and  thousands  and 
millions,  who  were  once  his  enemies,  have 
been  brought  willing  captives  to  his  feet, 


SIN  OF  UNBELIEF. 


29 


have  joyfully  acknowledged  liim  as  their 
Master  and  Lord,  and  sworn  allegiance  to 
him  as  the  Author  of  their  salvation.  Nor  is 
his  authority  less  absolute  over  the  second 
class  of  his  subjects,  who  still  persist  in  their 
rebellion.  In  vain  do  they  say,  We  will  not 
have  this  man  to  reign  over  us.  He  rules 
them  with  a  rod  of  iron,  causes  even  their 
wrath  to  praise  him,  and  makes  them  the  in- 
voluntary instruments  of  carrying  on  his  great 
designs.  He  holds  all  the  infernal  spirits  in 
a  chain,  governs  the  conquerors,  monarchs 
and  great  ones  of  the  earth,  and  in  all  things 
wherein  they  deal  proudly,  he  is  still  above 
them.  In  one  or  the  other  of  these  ways, 
all  must  serve  Christ.  Is  it  not  belter  to 
serve  him  willingly,  and  be  rewarded,  than 
to  serve  him  reluctantly,  and  be  destroyed? 


SINFULNESS  OF  UNBELIEF. 

The  reason  why  persons  who  appear  lo 
be  in  some  measure  convinced  of  sin,  so 
often  lose  their  convictions ;  and  why  so 
many  professors  of  religion  fall  away  and 


30 


SIN  OF  UNBELIEF. 


disgrace  Iheir  profession,  is,  because  the 
work  of  conviclion  was  never  thoroughly 
perfonnecl ;  because  they  were  never  con- 
vinced of  unbelief.  They  saw,  perhaps, 
that  they  were  sinners.  They  felt  con- 
vinced of  many  sins  in  their  tempers  and 
conduct;  they  in  some  meetsure  corrected 
and  laid  aside  these  sins ;  then  their  con- 
sciences ceased  to  reproach  them,  and  they 
flattered  themselves  that  they  had  become 
new  creatures.  But,  meanwhile,  they  knew 
nothing  of  the  great  sin  of  unbelief,  and 
therefore  never  confessed,  repented  of,  or 
forsook  it,  until  it  proved  their  destruction. 
They  were  like  a  man  who  should  go  to  a 
physician  to  be  healed  of  some  slight  exter- 
nal wound,  while  he  knew  nothing  of  a  deep- 
rooted  disease  which  was  preying  upon  his 
vitals.  Professors,  try  yourselves  by  these 
remarks.  Look  back  to  the  time  when  you 
imagined  yourselves  to  be  convinced  of  sin, 
and  say  whether  you  were  then  convinced, 
or  whether  you  have  at  any  time  since  been 
convinced,  of  the  exceeding  sinfulness  of 
unbelief.    If  not,  there  is  great  reason  to 


SIN  OF  UNBKI.IKF. 


fear  that  you  are  deceived,  that  you  have 
mistaken  the  form  for  tjie  power  of  godliness. 


It  is  God's  invariable  method  to  humble 
before  he  exalts ;  to  show  us  our  diseases 
before  he  heals  them  ;  to  convince  us  that 
we  are  sinners  before  he  pronounces  our 
pardon.  When,  therefore,  the  Spirit  of  all 
j^race  and  consolation  comes  to  comfort  and 
sanelily  a  sinner,  he  begins  by  acting  the 
part  of  a  reprover,  and  thus  convincing  him 
of  sin.  The  sin  of  which  he  more  particu- 
larly aims  to  convince  him  is  unbelief.  He 
shall  reprove  the  world  of  sin,  says  our 
Saviour.  Why?  Because  they  are  mur- 
derers, thieves,  or  adulterers?  No.  Be- 
cause Ihey  are  guilty  of  slander,  fraud,  or 
extortion  ?  No.  Because  they  are  intempe- 
rate, dissipated,  or  sensual  ?  No.  Because 
they  are  envious,  malicious,  or  revengeful  ? 
No ;  but  because  they  are  unbelievers, 
because  they  believe  not  on  me. 


HUMAN  DEPRAVITY. 


If  there  is  one  fact,  or  cloclrine,  or  promise 
ill  the  Bihie,  which  has  produced  no  practiced 
effect  upon  your  temper  or  conduct,  be  as- 
sured that  you  do  not  truly  believe  it. 

CONDUCT  OF  MEN  TOV\'ARDS  THEIR 
MAKER. 

Mankind  seem  to  consider  God  as  a  sort 
of  outlaw,  who  has  no  rights ;  or,  at  least,  as 
one  whose  rights  may  be  disregarded  aiid 
trampled  on  at  pleasure.  They  allow  that 
promises  made  to  each  other  ought  to  be 
fulfilled;  but  they  violate,  witliout  scruple 
those  promises  which  they  often  make  to 
God,  in  an  hour  of  seriousness,  sickness,  or 
affliction.  They  allow  that  earthly  rulers 
ought  to  be  obeyed,  but  they  seem  to  think 
Uiat  no  obedience  is  due  to  the  Sovereign 
Ruler  of  the  universe.  They  allow  that 
children  ought  to  love,  honor,  and  submit  to 
their  parents ;  but  they  do  not  appear  to 
think  that  either  love,  honor,  or  submission, 
should  be  paid  to  our  Father  in  heaven. 
They  allow  that  gratitude  is  due  to  human 


HUMAN  DK.PRAVITY. 


33 


"  benefactors,  and  that  to  requite  their  favors 
with  ingratitude,  is  a  proof  of  abominable 
wickedness  ;  but  they  practically  deny 
tnat  any  grateful  returns  should  be  made  to 
our  lieavenly  Benefactor  for  his  innumerable 
benefits,  and  seem  to  consider  the  blackest 
ingratitude  tow  ards  him  as  scarcely  a  sin. 


When  a  son  forsakes  his  father's  house ; 
when  he  refuses  to  comply  with  his  entreaties 
to  return  ;  w  hen  he  chooses  to  endure  all  the 
evils  of  poverty  rather  than  return, — we  are 
ready  to  suspect  that  his  father  must  be  a 
very  disagreeable,  unlovely,  or  cruel  char- 
acter, since  his  own  children  cannot  live 
with  him.  At  least,  we  shall  think  this  un- 
less we  have  a  very  bad  opinion  of  the  son. 
We  must  condemn  one  or  the  other.  So, 
when  God's  own  creatures,  whom  he  has 
nourished  and  brought  up  as  children,  for- 
sake him,  and  refuse  to  return  or  be  recon- 
ciled, it  gives  other  beings  cause  to  suspect 
that  he  must  be  a  very  cruel,  unlovely  being ; 
and  Ihey  must  either  conclude  that  he  is  so^ 
or  form  a  very  bad  opinion  of  us.  Now, 
3 


3i 


UOBBINC  GOU. 


sinners  will  not  allow  thai  llie  fault  is  llicirs 
nf  course  they  throw  all  the  blamR  upon 
their  Creator,  anil  represent  him  as  such  an 
unkind,  cruel  Parent,  that  bis  children  cannot 
live  with  or  please  him.  It  is  true,  God  has 
power  to  vindicate  his  own  character,  and 
to  show  the  universe  that  the  fault  is  wholly 
ours.  Cut  this  is  no  thanks  to  us. .  The  ten- 
dency of  our  conduct  is  still  the  same ;  il 
still  tends  to  load  his  character  with  the 
Slackest  infamy  and  disgrace.  This  is  all 
the  return  we  make  him  for  giving  us  exist- 
ence. 'Hius  do  ye  requite  the  Lord,  O 
foolish  people,  and  unwise. 


Will  a  man  rob  God?  Yet  ye  have 
robbed  roe.  It  is  evident  that  you  withhold 
your  hearts  from  God  ;  or,  in  other  words, 
rob  him  of  your  atiections,  the  very  llnng 
which  be  prii^cipally  desires.  And  is  this  a 
small  offence  ?  Should  a  person  rob  you  of 
the  affection  and  esteem  of  the  partner  of 
your  bosom,  of  your  cnildren,  or  your  friends, 
would  you  not  think  it  a  great  hijury? 
Would  it  not  ia  many  instances  be  v.'orse 


LOVE  OF  THE  WORI.Il. 


So 


thaa  robbing;  you  of  your  properly  ?  And* 
is  it,  tlien,  a  Irifliug  offence  for  in!clll°-eiit 
creatures  to  rob  their  Creator,  Father  and 
Benefactor,  of  that  supreme  place  in  their 
affections  to  which  he  has  a  most  perfect 
right,  and  which  he  prizes  above  every  tl)ing 
tliey  possess  ? 


The  world  is,  in  some  form  or  other,  the' 
great  Diana,  the  grand  idol  of  all  its  inhab- 
itants, so  long  as  they  continue  in  their  nat- 
ural sinful  slate.  They  bow  down  to  it ;  they 
worship  it ;  they  spend  and  are  spent  for  it ; 
they  educate  their  children  in  its  service  ; 
their  hearts,  their  minds,  their  memories, 
their  imaginations,  are  full  of  it ;  their  tongues 
speak  of  it ;  their  hands  grasp  it ;  their  feet 
pursue  it.  In  a  word,  it  is  all  in  all  to  them, 
while  they  give  scarcely  a  word,  a  look,  or 
a  thought  to  him  who  made  and  preserves 
them ;  and  who  is  really  all  in  all.  Thus 
men  roJ)  God  of  their  bodies  and  spirits, 
which  are  his,  and  practically  say,  We  are 
our  own  ;  who  is  Lord  over  us  ? 


l  OVE  OF  THE  WORLD. 


From  the  manner  in  which  we  habitually 
treat  the  Bible,  we  may  learn  what  are  our 
I'eclinsfs  and  dispositions  towards  God ;  for 
as  we  treat  the  word  of  God,  so  should  we 
treat  God  himself,  were  he  to  come  and 
reside  among  us,  in  a  human  form,  as  he 
once  dwolt  on  earth  in  the  form  of  his  Son. 
The  contents  of  Scripture  are  a  perfect 
transcript  of  the  divijie  mind.  If,  then,  God 
should  come  to  dwell  among  us,  he  would 
leach  the  same  things  that  the  Scriptures 
teach,  and  pronounce  upon  us  the  same  sen- 
tence which  they  pronounce.  We  should 
therefore  feel  towards  him  as  we  now  feel 
towards  them.  If  we  reverence,  and  love, 
and  obey  the  Scriptures,  then  we  should 
reverence,  love,  and  obey  God.  But  if  we 
dislike  or  disbelieve  the  Scriptures,  if  we 
seldom  study  them,  or  read  them  only  with 
indifference  and  neglect,  we  should  treat 
God  in  the  same  manner.  Never  would  he 
be  a  welcome  Guest  in  a  family  where  his 
word  is  neglected. 


NF.CI.ECT  OK  THE  BIBLE. 


LANGUAGE    OF     THOSE    WHO  NEGLECT 
THE  BIBLE. 

No  man  will  ever  voluntarily  neglect  to 
make  himself  acquainted  with  the  contents 
of  a  message  sent  to  him  by  one  whom  he 
acknowledges  as  his  superior,  or  on  whom 
he  feels  himself  to  be  dependent.    Let  a 
subject  receive  a  communication  from  his 
acknowledged  sovereign,  and  as  it  claims, 
so  it  will  receive  his  'immediate  allcntioii. 
Nor  will  he,  especially  if  it  contains  various 
and  important  instructions,  think  a  haslv 
perusal  of  it  sufficient.    No,  he  will  study  it 
till  he  feels  confident  that  he  is  acquaintc<l 
with  its  conlenls,  and  understands  their  im- 
port.   At  least  equally  certain,  and  equally 
evident  is  it,  that  every  man  whose  heart 
acknowledges  Ood  to  be  his  rightful  Sove- 
reign, and  who  believes  that  the  Scriptures 
contain  a  revelation  from  him,  will  study 
them  attentively,  study  them  till  he  feels 
confident  that  he  understands  their  contents, 
and  that  thry  have  made  him  wise  unto  sal- 
vation.   The  man  who  does  not  thus  study 


33 


NKGI.ECT  OF  PRAYER. 


tliem,  who  negligently  suffers  ihem  to  lie, 
for  days  and  weeks,  unopened,  says,  more 
explicitly  than  any  words  can  say,  I  am 
Lord  ;  God  is  not  my  Sovereign  ;  I  am  not 
his  subject,  nor  do  I  consider  it  important  to 
know  what  he  requires  of  me.  Carry  his 
messages  to  those  who  are  subject  to  him, 
and  they  will,  perhaps,  pay  them  some 
attention. 

LANGDACE  OF  ALT.  WHO  NF.GLECT 
PRAYER. 

Tl  is  natural  to  man,  from  his  earliest  infan- 
cy, to  cry  for  relief  when  in  danger  or  distress. 
If  he  supposes  that  any  one  able  to  relieve 
him  is  within  hearing  of  his  cries.  Every 
man,  then,  who  feels  his  own  dependence 
upon  God,  and  his  need  of  blessings  which 
God  only  can  bestow,  will  pray  to  him. 
He  will  feel  that  prayer  is  not  only  his  duty, 
but  his  highest  privilege ;  a  privilege  of 
which  he  would  not  consent  to  be  deprived, 
though  confinement  in  a  den  of  lions  were  to 
be  the  consequence  of  its  exercise.  The  man, 
then,  who  refuses,  or  neglects  to  pray,  who 


NEGLECT  OF  PRAYER. 


39 


regards  prayer  not  as  a  privilege,  but  as  a 
wearisome  and  needless  task,  practically 
says,  in  tlie  most  unequivocal  mamicr,  I  ar:i 
not  dependent  on  God  ;  I  want  nothing  tlia! 
iie  can  give  ;  and  (licrefore  I  will  not  come 
to  him,  nor  ask  any  favor  at  his  hands.  I 
will  not  ask  him  to  crown  my  exertions  will' 
success,  for  I  am  able,  and  determined,  to 
be  the  architect  of  my  own  fortune.    I  will 
rot  ask  him  to  instructor  guide  me,  for  I  am 
competent  to  be  my  own  inslnicler  and 
guide.  I  will  not  ask  him  to  strengthen  and 
support  me,  for  I  am  strong  in  the  vigor  and 
resources  of  my  own  mind.    1  will  not  re- 
quest his  protection,  for  I  am  able  to  protect 
myself.    I  will  not  implore  his  par-loning 
mercy  nor  his  sanctifying  grace,  for  T  nce.l. 
I  desire,  neither  the  one  nor  the  other.  I 
will  not  ask  his  presence  and  aid  in  the  hour 
of  death,  for  I  can  meet  and  grapple,  unsup- 
ported, with  the  king  of  terrors,  and  enter, 
undaunted  and  alone,  any  unknown  world 
into  which  he  may  usher  me.    Such  is  the 
langtiage  of  all  wbo  neglect  prayer. 


40  FORBEARANCE  OF  GOD. 


REASON  OF   god's    FORBEARASCE  WITH 
SINNERS. 

How  Hoiiderful  is  Ihe  lonj-suflering  and 
forbearance  of  God  !  Here  aie  sinners  wlio 
have  been,  for  iwemy,  forty,  sixty  years, 
abusing^  his  patience,  and  misiinprovinj  all 
his  beiictiLs.  Yel,  instead  of  cutting  them 
down,  he  adds  another  year,  perhaps  many 
years,  to  their  long  since  forfeile<i  lives. 
There  are  sinners  who  have  wasted  and 
profaned  a  thousand  Sabbaths ;  yet  he  allows 
ihem  another  Sal)balh.  another  opportunity 
of  hearing  the  offers  of  salvation.  There 
are  sinners  who  have  repeatedly  been  urged 
in  vain  to  be  reconciled  to  God ;  yet  he 
condescends  still  to  request  a  reconciliation. 
There  are  sinners  at  whose  hearts  Christ 
has  knocked,  a  thousand  and  a  thousand 
times ;  but,  though  they  refuse  to  admit  him, 
he  still  knocks  again.  O,  why  are  such 
treasures  of  goodness  lavished  on  such  in- 
sensible creatures?  \\Tiy  is  such  an  ines- 
timable prize  put  into  the  hands  of  those 
who  have  no  heart  to  improve  it  ?  Why, 


KORBK ARAXCF.  OF  GOD. 


41 


indeed,  but  to  show  what  God  can  do,  and 
how  infinitely  his  patience  and  forbearance 
exceed  ours. 


One  reason  why  God  bestows  on  sinners 
the  day  and  the  means  of  grace,  is,  llinl 
thev  may  have  an  opportunity  of  clearly 
displaying  their  own  characters,  and  thus 
proving-  the  truth  of  the  charges  which  he 
has  brought  against  them.    He  docs,  as  ii 
were,  say  to  the  world,  I  have  accused 
Ihese  creatures  of  being  enemies  to  me  and 
10  all  goodness,  and  of  cherishing  in  their 
hearts  an  obstinate   attachment   to  vice. 
They  deny  the  charge.    1  am  thereforo 
about  to  bring  them  to  the  test ;  to  try  an 
experiment  which  will  clearly  show  whethei 
my  charges  are  well  founded  or  not.    I  shall 
.send  them  my  word,  and  the  gospel  of  my 
Son,  clearly  revealing  to  them  the  way  of 
salvation.    I  shall  send  messengers  to  ex- 
plain and  press  upon  them  the  inilhs  there 
revealed.     I  shall  allow  them  one  day  in 
seven  to  attend  on  their  instructions,  and  1 
shall  offer  them  the  assistance  of  my  Spirit, 


4'i  man's  UEPKN'UKNCE. 

t(>  render  them  holy  :  tliese  privileges  they 
sliall  enjoy  for  years  together.  If  they  im- 
prove them  aright,  If  they  believe  my  word, 
receive  ami  love  my  Son,  and  renounce  their 
sins,  I  will  acknowledge  that  I  have  accused 
them  falsely,  that  they  are  not  so  depraved 
as  I  have  rcjiresenled  them.  But,  should 
they,  on  the  contrary,  neglect  my  word, 
disbelieve  the  gospel,  and  refuse  to  receive 
antl  submit  to  my  Son  ;  should  they  profane 
the  Sal)balh,  misimprove  the  day  of  grace, 
refuse  to  repent  of  their  sins,  and  be  recon- 
ciled to  me, — then  it  will  be  evident  to  all, 
that!  have  not  accused  them  falsely;  that 
they  are  just  such  depraved,  obstinate,  ir- 
reconcilable enemies  to  me  and  to  good- 
ness, as  I  have  represented  them  to  be  in 
uiy  word. 

WE  ARE  LORDS,  JER.  II.  31. 

If  men  are  indeed  independent  of  God,  it 
may,  with  safely,  be  asserted,  that  he  is 
almost  the  only  being  or  object  in  the  uni- 
verse, on  whom  they  are  not  dependent. 
From  the  cradle  to  the  grave,  their  lives 


man's  dependence. 


43 


exhibit  little  else  than  a  coiuimied  course 
of  dependence.     They  are  dependent  on 
the  earth,  on  the  water,  on  the  air,  on  each 
other,  on  irrational  animals,  on  vegetables, 
on  unorganized  substances.    Let  but  the  sun 
withhold  his  beams,  and  the  clouds  their 
showers  for  a  single  year,  and  the  whole 
race  of  these  mi-hty,  independent  beiu-s 
expires.    Lei  but  a  pestilential  blast  sweep 
over  them,  and  they  are  gone.     Let  but 
some  imperceptible  derangement  take  place 
HI  their  frail  but  complicated  frame,  an<l  all 
their  boasted  inlcUectual  powers  sink  to  the 
level  of  an  infant's  or  an  idiot's  mind.  I-el 
a  small  portion  of  that  food,  on  which  they 
daily  depend  for  nourishment,  pass  but  the 
breadth  of  a  line  from  its  proper  course,  and 
they  expire  in  agony.    An  insect,  a  needle, 
a  thorn,  has  often  proved  sufficient  to  subject 
them  to  the  same  faic.    And  while  they  are 
dependent  on  so  many  objects  for  the  con- 
tinuance of  their  lives,  they  are  depended 
on  a  still  greater  number  for  happiness,  anti 
for  the  success  of  their  enterprises     Let  but 
a  single  spark  fall  unheeded,  or  be  wafted 
by  a  breath  of  air,  and  a  city,  which  it  ha.s 


TO  THE  IMPEMTEiNT. 


cost  thousands  llie  labors  of  many  years  to 
erect,  may  be  turned  to  ashes.  Let  the 
wind  but  blow  from  one  point,  rather  ihan 
from  another,  and  the  hopes  of  the  mer- 
chant are  dashed  ag^ainst  a  rock.  Let  but 
a  little  more,  or  a  little  less,  than  the  usual 
quantity  of  rain  descend,  and  in  the  latter 
case  llie  prospects  of  the  husbandman  are 
blasted,  while,  in  the  other,  his  anticipated 
harvest  perishes  beneath  tlie  clods,  or  is 
swept  away  by  an  inundation.  But  in  vain 
do  we  attempt  to  describe  the  extent  of 
man's  dependence,  or  enumerate  all  the 
objects  and  events  on  which  he  depends. 
Yet  all  these  objects  and  events  are  under 
the  control  of  Jehovah.  Without  his  notice 
and  appointment,  i;ot  a  hair  falls  from  our 
heads,  nor  a  sparrow  to  the  g'round.  O  how 
far  is  it.  then,  from  being  true,  that  man  is 
not  dependent  on  God! 

TO  THE  IMPENITENT. 

My  friends,  God  offers  you  the  water 
of  life,  without  money  and  without  price. 
Every  one  may  come  and  take  it  if  he  will  j 


TO  THE  IMPKNITEN T. 


45 


and  is  not  tliis  sufficient  ?  Would  you  have 
the  water  of  life  forced  upon  you?  What 
is  it  that  you  wish  ?  My  friends,  I  will  tell 
you  what  you  wish.  You  wisli  to  live  as. 
you  please  here,  to  disobey  your  Creator, 
to  neglect  your  Saviour,  to  fulfd  the  desires 
of  the  flesli  and  of  the  mind ;  and  at  death 
to  be  admitled  into  a  kind  of  sensual  para- 
dise, where  you  may  taste  again  the  same 
pleasures  which  you  enjoyed  on  earth. 
You  wish  that  God  should  break  his  word, 
stain  his  justice,  purity  and  truth,  and  sacri- 
fice the  honor  of  his  law,  his  own  rightful 
authority,  and  the  best  interests  of  the  uni- 
verse, to  the  gratification  of  your  own  sinful 
propensities. 


Look  back  to  those  who  have  passed  the 
great  change  through  which  we  must  all 
pass.  Think  of  the  patriarchs  who  died 
before  the  flood.  They  have  been  perfectly 
happy  for  more  than  four  thousand  years  ; 
vet  their  happiness  has  but  just  commenced. 
Think  of  the  sinners  who  died  before  the 
flood.    For  more  than  four  thousand  years 


■I'i         GOD  ANGRY  WITH  SINNKRS. 

they  have  been  completely  wrculied,  and 
yel  llieir  misery  is  but  begun.  So  there  ■vvill 
eoine  a  time  when  you  will  have  been  happy 
or  miserable  four  thousand  years,  and  lor 
i'our  limes  four  thousand  years,  and  yet  your 
heaven  or  your  hell  will  even  then  be  but 
beginning. 

COD  ANGRY  WITH  SINNERS. 

"  God  is  angry  with  the  wicked  every 
day."  Do  you  ask  why  he  is  angry  1  I 
answer,  He  is  angry  to  see  rational,  im- 
mortal, and  accountable  beings,  spending 
twenty,  forty,  or  sixty  years  in  trifling  and 
sin  ;  serving  divers  idols,  lusts  and  vanities, 
and  living  as  if  death  were  an  eternal  sleep. 
He  is  angry  to  see  you  forgetting  your 
IMaker  in  childhood,  in  youth,  in  manhood, 
making  no  returns  for  all  his  benefits,  casting 
off  his  fear,  and  restraining  prayer,  and  re- 
belling against  him  who  has  nourished  and 
brought  you  up  as  children.  He  is  angry 
to  see  you  laying  up  treasures  on  earth, 
and  not  in  heaven ;  seeking  every  thing  in 
preference  to  the  one  thing  needful  3  loving 


GOD  ANOI'.V   WITH  SINNEKS.  47 

llie  praise  of  men  more  llian  the  praise  of 
God  ;  and  fearing  those  who  can  only  kill 
llie  body,  more  than  him  who  haili  power  to 
cast  both  soul  and  body  into  hell.    lie  is 
angry  to  see  that  you  disregard  alike  hia 
threaienings  and  his  promises;  his  judg- 
menls  and  his  mercies ;  that  you  bury  in  the 
earth  the  talents  he  has  given  you,  and  bring 
forth  no  fi-uit  to  his  glory ;  that  you  neglect 
his  word,  his  spirit  and  his  law,  and  perish 
in  impcnilency  and  unbelief,  notwidistamling 
all  the  means  employed  for  your  conversion. 
He  is  angry  to  see  you  come  before  him  as 
liis  people,  and  worship  him  with  your  hps, 
while  your  thoughts  are  perhaps  wandering 
to  the  ends  of  the  earth.    He  is  angry  to 
see  you  trusting  in  your  own  wisdom, 
strength  and  righteousness  for  salvation, 
instead  of  placing  your  dependence  on 
Christ,  the  only  name  by  which  you  can 
possibly  be  saved.    These  are  sins  of  wliich 
every  person,  in  an  unconverted  stale,  is 
guiUy  ;  and  for  these  things  God  is  angry, 
daily  angry,  greatly  and  justly  angry;  and 
unless  his  anger  be  speedily  appeased,  it 
will  most  certainly  prove  your  destruction. 


•J8 


MDIIVKa  TO  RKPKNTANCE. 


LUKE  XV.  10. 

God  now  commandeili  all  men,  every 
where,  lo  repeul.  I  lay  lliis  command  across 
your  paili :  you  cannot  proceed  one  slep 
I'arlher  in  a  sinliil  course  willioul  treading  it 
under  foot.  You  are  urged  to  the  imme- 
diate performance  of  this  duly  by  a  regard 
lo  your  own  interest;  for  except  ye  repent, 
ye  shall  all  likewise  perish.  You  are  urged 
to  it  by  all  the  blessed  angels,  who  are 
waiting  with  desire  to  rejoice  in  your  con- 
version. Above  all,  you  are  most  power- 
fully urged  to  it  by  the  blessed  Redeemer, 
whom  you  are  under  the  strongest  possible 
obligations  to  love  and  obey.  He  has  done 
and  suffered  much  for  you.  For  you  he  has 
toiled,  bled  and  died.  For  you  he  cheer- 
fully endured  the  scoffs  and  cruellies  of  men  ; 
the  rage  and  malice  of  devils  ;  and  the  over- 
whelming weight  of  his  Falher's  wrath.  In 
return  for  all  this,  he  asks  of  you  one  small 
favor.  He  merely  requests  you  to  repent 
and  be  happy.  If  you  comply  with  this 
request,  lie  will  see  of  the  travail  of  his 


soul  a..a  be  satisfied.  O,  then,  be  persuaded 
to  give  joy  to  God,  to  his  Son,  and  to  the 
blessed  an-cls;  to  make  this  day  a  fesl.val 
in  heaven,  by  rcpentln-.    Even  now,  your 
heavenly  Father  is  v/aiting  lor  your  return, 
and  the  Redeemer  stands  ready  with  ex- 
panded arms  to  reeeive  you.     Even  now, 
the  while  robes  and  the  ring  arc  provided, 
and  the  failed  calf  is  made  ready  lo  least 
returning  prodigals.    Even  now,  angels  and 
archangels  are  ready  lo  pour  forth  their 
most  joyful  songs  to  celebrate  your  return. 
Will  you,  then,  by  persisting  m  impeni- 
tence, seal  up  their  lips?    Will  you  say, 
There  shall  be  no  joy  in  heaven,  this  day, 
on  our  aceouiil  ?    God  shall  not  be  glo 
rified   C'hiisi  shall  not  be  gratified,  angels 
shall 'no.  rejoice,  if  we  can  prevent  .1? 
If  there  be  any  of  whose  feelings  and  con- 
duct  this  is  the  language,  I  solemnly,  but 
reluclanlly,  declare  unto  you,  in  d,e  name 
of  Jehovah,  lhat  God  and  his  Son  shall  be 
rlorificd,  ai.<l  there  shall  be  joy  over  you  m 
heaven,  nolwitlistanding  all  your  endeavors 
to  prevent  it    Never  shall  any  of  his  crea- 
tures rob  Go<l  of  his  glory  ;  and.  if  you  will 
4 


50  OBJECTIONS  A.NSWKKKl). 


not  coiisei\l  llial  his  grace  shall  be  glorified 
ill  your  salvaiioii,  lie  will  be  compelled  to 
glorify  his  justice,  in  your  everlasting  de- 
struction. If  you  will  not  allow  tl>e  inhabit- 
ants of  heaven  to  rejoice  in  your  repentance, 
their  love  of  justice,  truth  and  Imliuess  will 
constrain  lliein  to  rejoice  in  your  condem- 
nation, and  to  sing  alleluia,  while  the  smoke 
of  your  tonneut  asceudeth  up  forever  antl 
ever. 


OBJKCTIOSS  OF  SINNERS  TO  THE  GOSPEl 
ANSWERED. 

Suppose  that,  while  you  are  dying  of  a 
fatal  disease,  a  medicine  of  great  reputed 
efticacy  is  offered  you,  on  making  trial  of 
which,  you  find  yourself  restored  to  health 
and  activity.  Full  of  joy  and  gratitude,  you 
propose  the  remedy  to  others,  aiilicted  with 
the  same  disease.  One  of  these  persons 
replies  to  you,  "  1  am  surprised  that  you 
place  so  much  faith  in  llie  virtues  of  this 
Hiedicine.  How  do  you  know  that  it  was 
really  discovered  by  the  person  whose  name 
it  bears  7   Or,  eveu  if  it  were,  it  is  so  maajr 


()  BJ  K.C  I'IONS  A  NSW  KRKl). 


61 


years  ago,  and  the  medicine  lias  passed 
through  so  many  hands  since,  that  it  is 
probably  corniplo<l,  or  perhaps  some  other 
has  been  subslimted  in  the  place  of  tlie 
genuine  medicine."  Says  anotlior,  "  It 
may  not  be  suited  to  the  constitutions  of 
men  in  tliis  age,  though  it  was  undoubledly 
useful  to  those  who  first  used  it.''  "  The 
disease  and  the  cure  are  both  equally  im- 
aginary," says  a  third.  "  Th.cre  are  many 
other  remedies  of  equal  or  superior  effi- 
cacy," objects  a  fourth.  "  None  of  the  most 
celebrated  physicians  recommend  it,"  replies 
a  fifth  ;  while  a  sixth  attempts  to  silence  you 
by  objecting  to  tlie  phials  in  which  it  is  put 
up,  and  repeating  that  boxes  would  have 
been  more  suitable.  What  weight  would 
all  these  objections  have  with  you  ?  Would 
they  induce  you  to  throw  away  the  healing 
balm,  whose  cfl'ects  you  even  then  fell, 
sending  life,  and  health,  and  vigor,  through 
your  whole  frame  ?  Even  thus  may  infidels 
and  cavillers  urge  objections  against  the 
gospel;  but  the  Christian  heeds  th'-in  ih>i. 
for  he  has  felt,  in  his  own  soul,  its  li.'t-gii m;;;- 
power. 


62  oli.IKCriONS  ANSWKHKI). 


Will  you  say  that  lliere  arc  no  real  stars, 
because  you  sometimes  see  meteors  fall, 
which  for  a  time  appeared  to  be  stars  7 
Will  you  say  that  blossoms  never  produce 
fruit,  because  many  of  them  fall  off,  and 
gome  fruit,  which  appears  sound,  is  rotten  at 
the  core  ?  Equally  absurd  is  il  to  say  there 
is  no  such  thing-  as  real  rclig^ion,  because 
many  who  profess  it  fall  away,  or  prove  to 
be  hypocrites  in  heart.  Or  will  you  say 
that  a  medicine  does  no  good,  because, 
though  il  removes  the  fever,  il  does  not 
restore  the  patient  to  perfect  strength  in  an 
instant  ?  Equally  groundless  and  absurd  is 
it  to  say  that  religion  does  not  make  its 
possessors  better,  because  it  docs  not,  in  a 
moment,  make  them  perfect  as  the  angels 
of  God. 


The  many  false  and  counterfeit  appear- 
ances which  we  meet  with,  instead  of  prov- 
ing that  there  is  no  religion  in  tlie  world,  not 
only  prove  that  there  is,  but  that  it  is  ex- 
tremelv  precious  ;  otherwise  it  would  not  be 
connlcrfeilcd.  No  one  will  lie  at  the  trouble 
of  countorfelling,  either  what  does  not  exist, 


( )  K  .1  K  C  r  1  ( >  N  S  A  N  S  W  K  R  K  t ) . 


53 


or  what  is  of  no  value.  No  one  will  make 
false  stones,  or  false  dust,  lliough  many 
make  false  pearls  and  diamonds.  If  lliere 
were  no  real  money,  there  would  lie  no 
counterfeit ;  and  so,  if  there  were  no  real 
religion,  there  would  be  no  false  rclisicn. 
One  raiuiol  exist  without  the  other  any  more 
than  a  shadow  can  exist  widiout  a  suhsiance; 
and  he  who  rejeete  all  religion,  because 
hypocrites  sometimes'  borrow  its  name  and 
appearance,  acts  no  less  absur.lly  than  lie 
who  throws  his  gold  or  jewels  into  the  fire, 
because  gold  and  jewels  have  sometimes 
been  conntcrfeiled. 


Surely,  if  Christianity  be  a  delusion,  it  is  a 
blessed  delusion  indeed;  and  he  who  at- 
tempts to  destroy  it  is  an  enemy  to  mankind. 
Il  is  a  delusion  which  teaches  us  lo  do  justly, 
love  mercy,  and  walk  humbly  with  our  God  ; 
a  delusion  which  teaches  us  lo  love  our 
Maker  supremely,  and  our  neighbor  as  our- 
selves ;  a  delusion  which  bids  us  love, 
forgive,  and  pray  for  our  enemies,  render 
good  for  evil,  and  promote  the  glory  of  God 


54 


KUM.Y  l>K  OBJKCTOKS 


and  the  liappinessof  our  I'ellow  creatures,  by 
every  mc;aiis  in  our  power;  a  delusion, 
which,  vvlicrever  il  is  received,  produces  a 
humble,  meek,  charitable  and  peaceful 
temper,  and  which,  did  it  universally  prevail, 
would  banish  wars,  vice  and  misery  from 
the  world.  Il  is  a  delusion  which  not  only 
supports  and  comforts  its  believers  in  their 
wearisome  progress  ihroug^h  this  vale  of 
tears,  but  attends  them  in  death,  whei*  all 
other  consolations  fail,  and  enables  them  to 
triumph  over  sorrows,  sickness,  ang'uish  and 
the  griive.  If  delusion  can  do  this,  in  delu- 
sion let  me  live  and  die  ;  for  what  could  the 
most  blessed  reality  do  more  ? 


FOLLY  OK  REJECTING  THE  GOSPEL. 

Shall  we  listen  to  men  when  God  speaks  ? 
Shall  blind  and  ignorant  worms  of  the  dust 
pretenil  to  know  what  God  will  do,  betlei 
thaji  he  '.v  ho  was  from  eternity  in  the  bosom 
of  the  Father?  Hast  thou,  O  man,  whoso 
ever  thou  art,  that  prelendesl  that  the  words 
of  Clir  si  are  unreasonable,  or  iniprol.alile,  or 
false,  hast  thou  ascended  into  heaven,  or  de- 


FOI.I.Y  OK  OB.IKCTORS. 


scenclcd  into  hell  ?  Hast  ihou  mcasiireH 
eternity  anfl  grasped  infT\iily  ?  Hast  thou 
by  searching  found  out  God?  Hast  thou 
found  out  the  Almighty  unto  perfection? 
Canst  thou  tell  me  more  of  him  than  can  the 
Son  of  his  love,  in  whom  are  hid  all  the 
Irea'^sures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge  ?  Does 
the  dim  taper  of  thy  darkened  reason  shine 
briglitcr  than  the  glorious  Sun  of  righteous- 
ness ?  And  are  those  to  he  branded  as  fools 
and  madmen,  who  choose  to  walk  in  his 
light,  ralhcr  than  to  be  led  by  a  mere  ignis 
fatuus  ?  No  ;  till  you  can  bring  us  a  teacher 
superior  to  Christ,  who  is  the  wisdom  of 
Cod ;  till  you  can  show  us  a  man  who  has 
weighed  the  mountains  in  the  hollow  of  his 
hand,  and  moled  out  heaven  with  a  span: 
who  has  lived  in  heaven  from  eternity  ;  and 
can  prove  that  he  knows  more  than  Omnis- 
cience,— we  will,  we  must,  cleave  lo  Christ. 
Here  is  a  rock.  All  is  sea  besides.  Nor 
shall  the  unbelief  of  sijmers  make  ihe  failh 
of  God  without  efTecl;  for,  if  we  believe  not, 
he  remains  faithful ;  he  cannot  deny  himself,. 


56  I  NSlJFKIClKNCy   OF  KF.ASON. 


INSUFFICIENCY  OF  HUMAN  REASON. 

Viewed  throng  any  olhrr  medium  tlian 
lliat  of  revelation,  mail  is  a  riddle  whic  h  man 
caiiiiol  expound ;  a  being  roinposed  of 
inconsislenrles  and  conira<liciions,  which 
unassisted  reason  must  forever  seek  in  vain 
to  recourile.  Iji  vain  does  she  endeavor  to 
ascertain  the  origin,  object  and  end  of  his 
existence.  Tn  vain  does  she  inquire  in  what 
his  duty  and  happiness  consist.  In  vain 
does  she  ask  what  is  his  present  concern 
and  future  deslination.  Wherever  she  turns 
for  !n.'(>rmat!on,  she  is  soon  lost  in  a  labyrinth 
of  doulits  and  perplexities,  and  finds  the 
progress  of  her  researches  inlerrupicd  by  a 
tiloud  of  oliicurily  which  the  rays  of  her  feeble 
lamp  are  insufficient  to  penetrate. 


Suppose  you  should  see  a  man  carrying 
a  tilde,  glimmering  taper  in  his  hand  at 
noonday,  with  his  back  turned  to  the  sun, 
and  foolishly  endeavoring  to  persuade  him- 
'  self  and  others  thai  be  bad  no  need  of  the 


NATURAL  BKI.ir.lllS. 


67 


sun,  ami  llial  liis  taper  gave  more  ligbt  than 
that  glorious  luminary.  How  amazingly 
great  wouki  be  Ills  folly  !  Yet  this  illustra- 
lion  l>ul  very  feebly  represents  ll.c  folly  of 
those  who  walk  in  the  sparks  of  their  own 
kinciling,  while  they  disregard  the  glorious 
Sun  of  righteousness. 

SATURAI.  RElICIO.f. 

1  know  thai  those  who  hale  atid  despise 
the  religion  of  Jesus  because  it  condemns 
their  evil  deeds,  have  endeavored  lo  deprive 
him  of  ihc  honor  of  communicating  lo  man- 
kind the  glad  tidings  of  life  and  immortality; 
1  know  that  ihcy  have  dragged  the  moul- 
dering carcass  of  paganism  from  the  grave, 
animated  her  lifeless  form  with  a  spark 
stolen  from  the  sacred  altar,  arraye<l  her  in 
the  spoils  of  Christianity,  recnl  phicned  her 
extinguished  taper  at  the  torch  of  revelation, 
di-^nified  her  with  the  name  of  natural  reli- 
gion, and  exalted  her  in  the  temple  of  reason, 
as  a  goddess,  able,  without  divine  assistance, 
to  guide  mankind  to  truth  and  happiness. 
But  we  also  know,  that  ill  her  boasted  pre- 


53 


-NATURAL  Rfe:LIGIO.N. 


tensions  are  vnin,  the  offspring  of  ignorance, 
wickedness  and  pride.    We  know  ihat  she' 
is  indebted  to  th,il  revelation  which  she  pre- 
sumes to  ridicule  and  condemn,  (or  everv 
semblanee  of  truth  or  energy  which  she  dis- 
plays. We  know  thai  the  most  she  can  do,  is 
No  find  men  blind  and  leave  thom  so  ;  and  lo 
lead  Ihsm  still  farther  astray,  in  a  labyrinth 
of  vice,  delusion  and  wretchedness.    This  is 
incontroverlibly  evident,  both  from  past  and 
present  experience;  and  we  may  dcfv  her 
most  eloquent  advocates  lo  produce  a  sing'e 
histance,  in  which  she  has  enlighiened'or 
reformed  mankind.    If,  as  is  often  asserted, 
she  is  able  to  guide  us  in  the  path  of  truth 
and  happiness,  why  has  she  ever  suffered 
her  votaries  lo  remain  a  prey  to  vice  and 
ignorance  ?    Why  did  she  not  teach  the 
learned  E^'vptians  to  abstain  from  worship- 
ing their  leeks  and  onions  ?    Why  not  in- 
struct the  polished  Greeks  to  renounce  their 
sixty  thousand  gods  '    Why  not  persuade 
the  enlightened  Romans  lo  abstain  from 
adoring  their  deified  miirilemrs  ?    Whv  not 
prevail  on  the  weallhy  Phoenicians  toreVrain 
from  sacrificing  their  infants  lo  Saturn?  Or, 


5!) 


if  it  was  a  task  beyond  her  power  io  eii- 
Ii<rlitcii  llio  ii^noranl  miiltiliKle,  reform  their 
barbarous  and  abominable  siiperslilions.  and 
leach  ihcm  lliat  ihey  w-ere  immortal  bcinj^s, 
why  did  she  not,  at  least,  instruct  iheir  philos- 
ophcrs  in  the  great  doctrine  of  the  immor- 
tality of  the  soul,  which  they  so  earnestly 
labored  in  vain  to  discover  ?  They  enjoyed 
the  light  of  reason  and  natural  religion,  in  its 
fulles"  extent ;  ycl  so  far  were  they  from 
aSecrlalning  the  nature  of  our  future  and 
eternal  existence,  that  they  could  not  deter- 
mine whether  we  should  exist  at  all  beyond 
Ihe  grave  ;  nor  could  all  their  advantages 
preserve  ihcm  from  the  grossest  errors  and 
most  un«alural  crimes. 


What  would  you  say  of  a  man  who 
should  throw  away  his  compass,  because  he 
could  not  tell  v.hy  it  points  to  the  north  ?  or 
reject  an  accurate  chart,  because  it  did  not 
include  a  delineation  of  coasts  which  he 
never  expected  to  visit,  and  with  which  he 
had  no  concern  ?  What  would  you  say  of  a 
man  who  should  reject  all  the  best  astro- 


CO  l  OI.I.Y  OK  OBJKCTORS. 


nomical  treatises,  because  ihey  do  not  de- 
scribe the  inliabilaiils  of  llie  mcon.  and  of 
the  planets ;  or  who  should  treat  w  ith  con- 
tempt every  book  which  does  not  answer  all 
the  questions  that  may  be  asked  respecting' 
the  subject  of  which  it  treats  ?  Or,  to  come 
still  nearer  to  tlie  point,  what  would  you  say 
ofaman,  who,  when  sick  of  a  mortal  disease, 
should  refuse  an  infallible  remedy,  unless 
the  physician  would  first  tell  him  how  he 
took  the  disease,  how  such  diseases  first 
entered  the  world,  why  they  were  permitted 
to  enter  it,  and  by  what  secret  laws  or  vir- 
tues the  offered  remedy  would  effect  his 
cure  ?  Would  you  not  say,  a  man  so  un- 
reasonalils  deserves  to  die  ?  He  must  be  left 
to  suffer  for  his  folly.  Now,  this  is  precisely 
the  case  of  those  who  neglect  the  Dible, 
because  il  does  not  reveal  those  secret  ihin<f3 
which  belong-  to  God.  Your  souls  are  as- 
sailed by  fatal  diseases,  by  diseases  which 
have  desirnyed  millions  of  your  fellow  crea- 
tures, which  already  oc(a.sion  you  much 
suffering,  and  which,  you  are  ass'ircd.  will 
terminate  in  death  unless  removed.  An  in- 
rallible  Physician  is  reveailed  to  you,  iu  the 


lOl.I.Y  OK  OBJKCroKS. 


Bible,  who  has,  at  a  great  expense,  provided 
a  certain  remedy  ;  and  this  remedy  he  offers 
you  freely,  without  money  aiid  without 
price.  But  you  refuse  to  lake  this  remedy, 
because  he  docs  not  tliinU  it  necessary  to 
answer  every  question  which  can  be  asked 
respeciin?  the  ori-in  of  your  disease,  the 
introduction  of  s-ich  diseases  into  the  world, 
and  tlie  reasons  why  they  were  ever  pcr- 
milted  to  enter  it.  Tell  me,  you  exclaim, 
how  I  became  sick,  or  I  will  not  consent  to 
be  well.  If  this  be  not  tlie  height  of  folly 
and  madness,  w  hat  is  ? 


We  have  not  the  smallest  renson  to  sup- 
pose  that,  if  God  had  revealed  all  those 
secret  things  which  belong  to  him,  it  would 
have  made  it  more  easy  than  it  is  now,  to 
know  and  perform  our  duly.  Suppose,  for 
instance,  that  God  should  answer  all  the 
questions  which  may  be  asked  respecling 
the  origm  of  moral  evil,  and  its  introduction 
into  the  world ;  would  this  knovvleflge  at  all 
assist  us  in  banishing  evil  from  Oie  world, 
or  from  our  own  bosoms  ?    As  well  might 


\ 


62  PtNISHMK.NT  OF  SINNF.RS. 


we  pretend  ilial  a  knowledge  of  llie  precise 
manner  in  wliicli  a  man  was  killed  would 
enable  us  lo  restore  him  lo  life.  Or,  should 
God  inform  us  of  the  manner  in  which  di- 
vinity and  humanity  are  united  in  the  person 
of  Jesus  Christ,  would  tins  knowledge  assist 
us  in  performing  any  one  of  the  dulies  we 
owe  the  Saviour  ?  As  well  might  we  pre- 
tend that  a  knowledge  of  the  manner  in 
which  our  souls  are  united  to  our  bodies, 
would  assist  us  in  performing  any  of  the 
common  actions  of  life. 


The  Bible  tells  us  that  an  enemy  came  and 
sowed  lares.  Now,  if  ajiy  man  chooses  to 
go  farther  than  this,  and  inquire  where  the 
enemy  got  the  tares,  he  is  welcome  to  do  so  ; 
but  I  choose  to  leave  it  where  the  Bible 
leaves  it.  I  do  not  wish  lo  be  wise  above 
what  is  written. 

FATE  OF  THOSE  WHO  REJECT  THE 
GOSPEL. 

It  is  God's  invariable  mle  of  proceeding 
to  deal  with  his  creatures,  iu  some  measure. 


Pl'NISHMKNT  OK  SINNKRP.  G3 

as  Ihey  deal  witli  lilm.  Hence  we  are  told 
llial,  Willi  llie  upright,  he  will  show  himself  up- 
right ;with  the  merritul.lie  will  show  liimself 
merciful ;  and  wlih  llie  froward,  he  will  show 
himself  froward.  When,  therefore,  persons 
come  to  him  with  a  pretended  desire  to  know 
their  duly,  but,  in  reality,  with  a  view  to  find 
some  excuse  or  justification  for  their  errors 
and  sins,  he  will  sulVer  thorn,  as  a  punishment, 
to  find  someihing-  which  will  harden  them  in 
their  wickedness.  Thus  he  will  suffer  the 
obstinate  believer  In  universal  salvation,  to 
deceive  himself  with  his  delusive  dreams, 
till  he  wakes  in  lormenls.  He  will  sufTcr 
the  proud,  self-righteous  opposcr  of  his  gos- 
pel, lo  trust  in  his  moral  duties,  till  it  is  too 
lale  lo  discover  his  mistake.  He  will  suffer 
tRe  self-deceived  hypocrite  to  please  himself 
with  his  false  hopes  of  heaven,  till  he  finds 
the  door  forever  shut  against  him.  All 
these  persons  did,  in  elTect,  wish  lo  be  de- 
ceived; ihey  hated  the  light,  shut  their  eyes, 
and  would  not  come  to  it  ;  they  leaned  to 
their  own  understandings,  instead  of  trustin-; 
lo  the  Lord  j  they  never  prayed  him  lo  keep 
iliem  from  self-decepticn  and  from  false 


(54.  Nl)  PK.ACK  TO  SINM-.KS.  

paths ;  lliey  cliose  to  believe  Satan  rallicr 
lhaii  God,  and  tlicrefore  are  justly  left  to 
feci  the  effects  of  it. 


THE  VVICKKU    I.IKE    A    TROUBLED  SEA. 

Ungovcrned  passions    are  to  the  mind 
whal  win.ls  are  to  the  ocean,  and  they  often 
throw  it  into  a  storm  ;  for,  in  such  a  world  as 
Uiis,  the  sinner  must  meet  with  many  things 
which  are  calculated  to  rouse  them.  Some- 
times he  is  injured,  injured  perhaps  without 
cause  or  provocation ;  and  then  his  mind  is 
agitated  by  revengeful  feelings.  Sometimes 
he  sees  a  rival,  perhaps  an  unworthy  ri- 
val, outstrip  him  in  the  race,  and  seize  the 
prize  whicii  he  had  hope<l  to  obtain  ;  and,  in 
consequence,  envy,  mortification,  and  cha- 
grin, lie  gnawing  at  his  heart,  and  cause  the 
greater  pain  liccause  he  is  obliged  to  conceal 
them.     Often  he  meets  with  some  slight 
aiTronl  or  insult,  which  wounds  his  pride, 
and  sets  his  angry  passions  in  a  flame,  like 
Haman,  who  could  enjoy  nothing  because 
Mordecai  refused  to  do  him  reverence.  In 
addition  to  these  things,  he  is  daily  exposed 


sinner's  thuuohts  painiui..  65 


to  a  ihousand  liille  nameless  vexalious  oc- 
currences, winch  tca^e,  and  fret,  and  harass 
him,  rendering  his  mind  a  stranger  to  peace. 
Often,  too,  his  mind  is  disturbed  by  its  own 
workings,  without  any  assignable  cause. 
He  feels  restless  and  unhappy,  he  can 
scarcely  tell  why.  He  wants  something, 
but  he  cannot  tell  what.  One  wave  of 
troubled  thought  after  another,  comes  rolling 
upon  his  mind,  and  he  cannot  say  with  the 
Psalmist,  In  the  multitude  of  my  ihoiif  1  Is 
within  me,  thy  comforts  delight  my  soul. 
These  troublesome  thoughts,  an''  tumultuous 
workings  of  the  mind,  are  totlpvv,,  Ked 
man  what  the  daily  flow  and  ebb  of  the 
tide  are  to  the  ocean.  They  keep  it  in 
agilalion  even  whan  th3  waves  of  passion 
cease  to  flow 


THOUGHTS  OF  GOD  PAINFUL  TO  THE 
SINNER. 

Sinners  do  not  like  to  retain  God  in  their 
knowledge,  because  He  is  omniscient  and 
omnipresent.    In  consequence  of  his  pos- 
sessing these  attributes,  he  is  a  constant 
5 


6G     sinner's  thoughts  painful. 


witness  of  their  feeling's  and  conduct,  and  is 
perfectly  acquainted  with  their  hearts.  This 
must  render  the  thoughts  of  his  holiness  still 
more  disagreeable  to  a  sinner,  for  what  can 
be  more  unpleasant  to  such  a  character,  than 
the  constant  presence  and  inspection  of  a 
holy  being,  whom  he  cannot  deceive,  from 
whose  keen,  searching  gaze  he  cannot,  for  a 
moment,  hide,  to  whom  darkness  and  light 
are  alike  open,  and  who  views  the  sinner's 
conduct  with  the  utmost  displeasure  and 
abhorrence  ?  Even  the  presence  of  our 
fellow  creatures  is  disagreeable,  when  we 
wish  to  indulge  any  sinful  propensity  which 
they  will  disapprove.  The  slanderer,  the 
profane  swearer,  the  drunkard,  the  deb- 
auchee and  the  gamester  would  feel  the 
presence  of  a  religious  inferior  to  be  irksome, 
though  he  should  be  present  but  for  an  honr. 
How  exceedingly  irksome,  then,  must  the 
constant  presence  of  a  holy,  heart-searching 
God  be  to  a  sinner  I  But  if  the  sinner 
retains  a  knowledge  of  God,  he  must  feel 
him  to  be  present.  No  wonder,  then,  that 
sinners  banish  a  knowledge  of  him  from  their 
ioiiris,  as  the  easiest  method  of  freeing 


Satan's  armor. 


67 


themselves  from  llie  restraint  imposed  hy 
his  presence. 

Satan's  armor. 

The  armor  with  which  Satan  furnishes 
his  followers,  is  directly  the  reverse  of  that 
Christian   armor  described  b}'  the  apostle 
Paul.    Instead  of  a  girdle  of  truth,  he  g^irds 
the  sinner  with  the  ^rdle  of  error  and  deceit. 
Instead  of  the  breastplate  of  Christ's  righte- 
ousness, he  furnishes  him  with  a  breastplate 
of  his  own  fancied  righteousness.  Instead 
of  the  shield  of  faith,  the  sinner  has  the 
I       shield  of  unbelief;  and  with  this  he  defends 
I       himself  against  the  curses  of  the  law,  and 
•  !    the  arrows  of  conviction.  'Instead  of  the 
I       sword  of  the  Spirit;'  which  is  the  word  of 
;       God,  he  teaches  them  to  wield  the  sword  of 
I.  !    a  tongue  set  on  fire  of  hell,  and  furnishes 
e  '    them  with  a  magazine  of  cavils,  excuses, 
5       and  objections,  with  which  they  attack  re- 
»      lig^on,  and  defend  themselves.     He  also 
i      builds  for  them  many  refuges  of  lies,  in 
H  <     which,  as  in  a  strong  castle,  they  proudly 
if      hope  to  shelter  themselves  from  the  wrath 
f      of  God. 


The  false  peace  and  security  in  which 
sinners  indulge,  instead  of  proving  their 
safety,  is  only  a  further  evidence  of  their 
dan-er.  It  proves  that  the  strong  man 
ermed  is  not  disturbed  in  his  possessions, 
but  that  he  keeps  them  in  peace. 

GROUNDS  OF  THE  SINSER's  PEACE. 

There  is,  perhaps,  scarcely  a  person  to  be 
found,  who  does  not,  in  his  own  opinion, 
cxemplarilv  perform  some  part  of  his  duty. 
On  this  he  looks  with  no  small  degree  of 
self-complacency,  and  flatters  himself  that  it 
will  atone  for  all  obliquities  in  h,s  tempei 
and  conduct.    To  this  he  flies  for  refuge 
whenever  conscience  reproves  his  deficien- 
cies and,  instead  of  believing  the  apostohc 
assertion,  dial  if  a  man  shall  keep  the  whole 
law  and  yet  ofiend  in  one  point,  he  is  guilty 
of  all,  seems  to  suppose  that  if  he  transgresses 
the  whole  law,  and  yet  obeys  one  precept, 
he  is  guiltless.    I  have  met  with  a  person 
who,  though  guilty  of  almost  every  cnme 
which  could  disgrace  her  sex,  thanked  God, 
with  much  apparent  self-gratulation,  that 


CONSCIENCE. 


she  was  not  a  Ihief ;  and  who  evidently 
ima^ned  that  her  abstaining  from  this  one 
,     vice  would  secure  her  from  the  displeasure 
of  Heaven. 

CONSCIENCE. 

Conscience  is  God's  vicegerent  in  the 
soul,  and  though  sinners  may  stupefy  and 
sear,  they  cannot  entirely  silence  or  destroy 

1  it.  At  times,  this  unwelcome  monitor  will 
awake,  and  then  her  reproaches  and  threat- 

j     enings  are,  above  all  things,  terrible  to  the 

|l  sinner.  During  the  day,  while  he  is  sur- 
rounded by  thoughtless  companions,  or 
wholly  engrossed  by  worldly  pursuits,  he 
may  contrive  to  stifle,  or  at  least  to  disre- 
gard, her  voice  ;  but  at  night,  and  upon  his 

'  bed,  when  all  is  silent  around  him,  when 
darkness  and  solitude  compel  him  to  attend 
to  his  own  reflections,  tlw  case  is  diflereiit. 
Then  an  awakened  conscience  will  be  heard. 
Then  she  arraigns  the  sinner  at  her  bar, 
tries,  convicts,  and  condemns  him,  and 
threatens  him  with  the  punishment  which 
liis  sins  deserve.  In  vain  does  he  endeavor 
to  fly  from  her  torturing  scourge,  or  to  find 


il 


70 


CONSCIENCK. 


refuge  in  sleep.  Sleep  flies  from  him.  One 
sin  after  another  rises  to  his  view,  and  the 
load  of  conscious  guilt  which  oppresses  him, 
becomes  more  and  more  heavy,  till,  like  the 
impious  Belshazzar,  when  he  saw  the  mys- 
terious handwriting  upon  llic  wall,  the  joints 
of  his  loins  are  loosed,  and  his  knees  smile 
one  against  the  other.  He  finds  that  some- 
thing must  be  done.  He  has  heard  that 
prayer  is  a  duty,  and  he  attempts  to  pray. 
He  utters  a  few  half-formed  cries  for  mercy, 
makes  a  few  insincere  resolutions,  and 
promises  of  amendment;  and  having  thus, 
in  some  measure,  quieted  the  reproaches  of 
his  conscience,  he  falls  asleep.  In  the 
morning  he  wakes,  rejoiced  to  see  once 
more  the  cheerful  light ;  the  resolutions  and 
promises  of  the  night  are  forgotten,  he  again 
spends  the  day  in  folly  and  sin,  and  at  night 
retires  to  his  bed,  again  to  be  scourged  by 
conscience  for  breaking  his  resolutions, 
again  to  quiet  her  reproaches  by  insincere 
prayers  and  promises,  and  again  to  break 
these  promises  when  the  light  returns. 


CONSCIENCli. 


7! 


There  is  a  season,  and  often,  perhaps, 
more  than  one,  in  the  life  of  almost  every 
person  who  hears  the  gospel  faithfully 
preached,  in  which  it  aflecls  him  more  than 
ordinarily.  Somctliiiig'  like  light  appears 
to  shine  into  his  mind,  whicli  enables  him 
to  discover  objects  previously  unseen  or 
unnoticed.  While  this  ligiit  continues  to 
shine,  he  feels  a  much  more  full  and  strong 
conviction  of  the  truth  of  the  Bible,  and  of 
the  reality  and  importance  of  religion,  than 
he  ever  felt  before.  lie  sees,  with  more  or 
less  clearness,  that  he  is  a  sitmer ;  tiiat,  as 
such,  he  is  exposed  to  God's  displeasure ; 
and  that,  unless  some  means  can  be  found 
to  avert  that  displeasure,  he  is  undone. 
After  such  means,  he  is,  therefore,  very  in- 
quisitive. He  reads  the  Bible  more  fre- 
quently and  carefully,  becomes  a  more 
<1iligent,  attentive  and  interested  hearer  of 
the  gospel,  is  fond  of  conversing  on  religious 
subjects,  and  perhaps  attempts  to  pray  for 
mercy.  Christ  stands  at  the  door  of  his 
heart,  and  knocks  for  admittance.  With  a 
person  in  this  situation,  he  is  as  really, 
though  not  as  visibly,  present,  as  he  was  with 


72 


A  WOUXDED  SPIRIT. 


ihe  Jews  when  he  said,  Yet  a  little  while  is 
the  li^t  with  you. 

A  WOU.N'DED  SPIRIT  WHO  CAS  BEAR? 

One  reason  why  the  anguish  of  a  wounded 
spirit  is  more  intoleraWe  than  any  other 
species  of  suffering',  is,  that  it  Is  impossible 
to  obtain  tlie  smallest  consolation  or  relief 
under  it.  This  can  scarcely  he  said,  with 
truth,  of  any  other  species  of  suffering  to 
which  mankind  are  liable.  If  they  lose 
friends,  they  have  usually  other  friends  to 
sympathize  with  them,  and  assist  in  repairing 
their  loss.  If  they  lose  properly,  they  may 
hope  to  regain  it,  or,  if  not,  their  losses  can- 
not be  always  present  to  their  mind,  and 
many  sources  of  enjoyment  are  still  open  to 
them.  If  they  are  afflicted  with  painful 
diseases,  they  can  usually  obtain,  at  least, 
temporary  relief  from  medicine,  and  receive 
some  consolation  from  the  SNTnpathy  of  their 
friends.  In  all  cases,  they  can.  for  a  time, 
lose  their  sorrows  in  sleep,  and  look  for^vard 
to  death  as  the  termination  of  their  troubles. 
But  very  different  is  the  situation  of  one  who 


sufiers  the  anjuisli  of  a  wounded  spirit.  He 
cannot  fly  from  his  misery,  for  it  is  within. 
Nor  can  he  forgcl  it,  for  it  is  every  moment 
present  to  his  mind.  Nor  can  he  divert  his 
attention  from  it,  for  it  engages  his  thoughts, 
in  defiance  of  all  endeavors  to  fix  them  on 
any  other  objects.  Nor  can  he  derive  con- 
solation from  any  friends  or  temporal  bless- 
ings he  may  possess,  for  every  thing  is  turned 
to  poison  and  bitterness,  and  the  very  power 
of  enjoyment  seems  to  be  taken  from  him. 
Nor  can  he  even  lose  his  sorrows  in  sleep, 
for  sleep  usually  flies  from  a  wounded 
spirit,  or,  if  obtained,  it  is  disturbed  and  un- 
refreshin".  Hence  the  exclamation  of  Job, 
When  I  say.  My  bed  shall  comfort  me,  my 
couch  shall  ease  my  complaint ;  then,  thou 
scarest  me  with  dreams,  and  lerrifiest  me 
through  visions. 


Look  which  way  it  will  for  relief,  the 
wounded  spirit  can  discover  nothing  but 
aggravations  of  its  wretchedness.  If  it 
looks  within,  it  finds  nothing  but  darkness. 
BU'l  tempest  nnd  despair.    If  it  looks  around 


74  A  WOUNDED  SPIRIT. 

on  its  temporal  possessions,  it  sees  nothing 
but  gifts  of  God  whicli  it  has  abused,  and 
for  its  abase  of  which  it  must  give  a  terrible 
account.  If  it  looks  back,  it  sees  a  life 
spent  in  neglect  of  God,  and  tea  thousand 
sins,  following  it  as  accusers  to  the  judgment 
seat.  If  it  looks  forward,  it  sees  that  judg- 
ment seat  to  which  it  must  come,  and  where 
it  expects  nothing  but  a  sentence  of  final 
condemnation.  If  it  looks  up,  it  sees  that 
God  who  is  wounding  it,  and  whose  anger 
seems  to  search  it  like  fire ;  and  if  it  looks 
downward,  it  sees  the  gulf  which  awaits 
its  fall.  Not  even  to  death  can  it  look 
forward  as  the  termination  of  its  miseries, 
for  it  fears  that  its  miseries  will  then  receive 
a  terrible  increase.  True,  there  is  one 
object  to  which  it  might  look  for  relief,  and 
find  it.  It  might  look  to  the  Saviour,  the 
great  Physician,  and  obtain  not  only  a  cure 
for  its  wounds,  but  everlasting  life.  But  to 
tiim  it  will  not  look,  till  its  impenitence  and 
unbelief  are  subdued  by  sovereign  grace. 


UN  WILLINGNKSS  TO  BE  SAVED. 


75 


sinner's  unwillingness  to    go  to 

CHRIST. 

The  sinner  tries  every  place  of  refuge 
before  he  will  enter  the  ark  of  safety.  He 
is  like  a  person  exposed  to  (he  storm  and 
tempest,  for  whom  a  place  of  safety  is  pro- 
vided, which  he  is  unwilling  to  cuter.  He 
flies  from  one  place  of  fancied  security  to 
fake  refuge  in  another.  The  storm  increases  ; 
one  hiding-place  after  another  is  swept 
away,  till,  at  length,  exposed,  without  a 
shelter,  to  the  raging  storm,  he  is  glad  to  flee 
U)  tlie  refuge  provided  for  him. 


Suppose  an  apparently  strong  and  healthy 
man  should  apply  to  you  "for  relief,  and, 
when  asked  why  he  did  not  labor  for  his 
subsistence,  should  reply.  Because  I  can 
find  no  one  to  employ  me.  If  you  wished 
to  know  whether  this  or  indolence  were  the 
true  reason,  you  would  ofl'cr  him  ciiiploy- 
ment ;  and  if  he  then  refused  to  labor,  you 
would  feel  satisfied  that  he  was  slothful, 


70 


EXCUSES  ANSWERED. 


and  undeserving  of  your  charity.  So,  when 
God  puts  into  the  liands  of  sinners  a  price 
to  gel  wisdom,  and  they  do  not  improve  il, 
it  becomes  evident  that  Ibcy  do  not  wish, 
that  they  are  not  willing,  to  become 
'eligious. 

EXCUSES  OF  THE  SINNER  ANSWERED. 

Numerous  as  are  the  excuses  which 
SMiners  make  when  urged  to  embrace  the 
gospel,  they  may  all  be  reduced  to  three: 
the  first  is,  that  they  have  no  time  to  attend 
to  religion  ;  the  second  is,  that  they  do  not 
know  how  to  become  religious ;  and  the 
third,  that  they  are  not  able  to  become  so. 
Want  of  lime,  want  of  knowledge,  or  want 
of  power,  is  pleaded  by  all.  Foreseeing 
that  they  would  make  these  excuses,  God 
determined  that  they  should  have  no  reason 
to  make  them.  Ry  giving  them  the  Sabbath, 
he  has  allowed  them  lime  for  religion.  By 
giving  them  his  word,  and  messengers  to 
explain  it,  he  has  taken  away  the  excuse  of 
ignorance ;  and  by  olTcring  Ihem  the  cissist- 
ance  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  he  has  deprived 


EXCUSES  ANSWERED. 


T, 


them  of  the  pretence  that  they  are  unable  to 
obey  him.  Thus  he  has  obviated  all  their 
excuses;  and  therefore,  at  the  last  day,  every 
moufli  will  be  stopped,  and  the  whole  im- 
penitent world  will  stand  guilty  and  self-con- 
demned before  God. 

The  convinced  sinner  wishes  to  be  saved ; 
but  then  he  wouhl  be  his  own  savior.  He 
will  not  consent  to  be  saved  by  Christ.  He 
cannot  bear  to  come  as  a  poor,  miserable, 
self-condemned  sinner,  and  throw  himself 
on  the  mere  mercy  of  Christ ;  but  he  wants 
to  purchase  heaven  ;  to  give  so  many  good 
deeds,  as  he  calls  them,  or  so  much  happi- 
ness hereafter.  He  goes  on  to  multiply  hia 
religious  duties,  and,  with  great  diligence, 
makes  a  robe  of  his  own  righteousness,  with 
which  he  hopes  to  cover  his  moral  nakedness, 
and  render  himself  acceptable  in  the  sight 
of  God.  In  vain  is  he  told  that  all  his 
righteousness  is  as  filthy  rags;  that  he  is 
daily  growing  worse,  rather  than  better ;  that 
eternal  life  can  never  be  purchased.  He 
will  stop  here,  as  thousands  have  done 


78  PEACE  IN  BELIEVING. 

before,  resting'  on  this  foundation,  liaving 
the  form  of  g-odliiiess,  but  denying-  the 
power,  unless  the  Spirit  of  God  continue  to 
strive  with  liim,  and  complete  the  work  by 
showing  him  his  own  heart. 

THE    KNOWLEDGE    OF    CHHIST  BRINGS 
PEACE  TO  THE  SINNER. 

Even  a  knowledge  of  the  divine  perfec- 
tions, if  it  could  have  been  obtained  without 
Christ,  would  only  have  driven  us  to  despair, 
as  it  did  our  guilty  first  parents  ;  for  out  of 
Christ,  God  is  a  consuming  fire.  The 
convinced  sinner  looks  at  the  greatness  of 
God,  and  says,  How  can  he  stoop  to  notice 
a  being  so  insignificant  as  myself?  He 
looks  at  his  holiness,  and  says,  God  cannot 
but  hate  me  as  a  vile,  polluted  sinner.  He 
looks  at  his  justice,  and  says,  God  must 
condemn  me,  for  I  have  broken  his  righteous 
law.  He  looks  at  his  truth,  and  cries,  God 
is  not  a  man,  that  he  should  lie ;  he  must 
execute  his  tnreatenings  and  destroy  me. 
He  looks  at  God's  immutability,  and  says. 
He  is  in  one  mind,  and  who  can  turn  him  7  He 


PEACE  IN  BELIEVING. 


79 


will  never  change :  lie  will  always  be  my 
enemy.    He  looks  at  his  power  and  wisdom, 
and  says,  I  can  neither  resist  nor  deceive 
him.    He  looks  at  his  eternity,  and  exclaims, 
It  is  a  fearful  thing  to  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  living  God.    Thus  do  all  the  divine 
perfections  become  so  many  sources  of 
terror  and  dismay  to  the  convinced  sinner. 
But  no  sooner  does  he  obtain  a  knowledge 
of  Christ,  than  his   fears    vanish.  The 
divine  perfections  no  longer  forbid  him  to 
hope  for. mercy,  but  encourage  him  to  do  it. 
Instead  of  the  thunders  of  the  law,  he  hears 
the  compassionate  voice  of  Christ  saying, 
Be  of  good  cheer,  my  blood  cleanseth  from 
all  sin ;  thy  sins,  which  are  many,  are  for- 
given.   He  feels  boldness  to  enter  into  the 
holiest  of  all  through  the  blood  of  Jesus,  and 
exclaims  with  the  apostle.  Being  justified 
by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God  through 
our  Lord   Jesus   Christ.     Such   are  the 
blessed  effects  which  St.  Paul  experienced 
from  a  knowledge  of  Christ,  and  which 
every  true  believer  experiences.    Can  wo 
then  wonder,  that,  in  comparison  with  il, 
they  count  all  things  but  loss. 


THE  CONVINCED  SINNER    BELIEVING  IN 
CHRIST. 


^Vhcn  a  convinced,  guilly  sinner,  who 
feels  condemned  by  llie  law  of  God  and 
his  own  conscience,  and  fears  the  sentence 
of  eternal  condemnation  from  the  mouth 
of  his  Judge  hereafter,  hears  and  believes 
the  glad  tidings  of  salvation,  they  cause 
hope  in  the  mercy  of  God  to  spring  up  in 
his  anxious,  troubled  breast.    He  says  to 
himself,  I  am  a  miserable,  guilty  creature. 
I  have  rebelled  against  my  Creator,  broken 
his  law,  and  thus  exposed  myself  to  its 
dreadful  curse.    How,  then,  can  I  escape 
from  this  curse,  which  threatens  to  plunge 
me  in  eternal  ruin  ?    Can  I  call  back  the 
idle  words  I  have  uttered,  the  sinful  desires 
I  have  indulged,  the  wicked  actions  I  have 
committed,  the  time  I  have  wasted,  the 
precious  privileges  and  opportunities  I  have 
misimproved  ?     No.     Can  I  wash  away 
the  guilt  of  these  sins  from  my  troubled 
conscience,  or  blot  out  the  black  catalogue 
of  them  which  is  written  in  the  book  of 


PEACE  IN  BELIEVING.  81 

God's  remembrance  ?  No.  Caji  I  make 
any  satisfaction  or  atonement  for  llicm,  to 
appease  my  juslly-oflended  God  ?  No. 
Even  should  I  be  pcrfectlj' obedient  in  future, 
still  this  will  not  blot  out  my  past  sins. 
Besides,  I  find  that  I  daily  commit  new  sins ; 
so  that,  instead  of  diminishing;,  I  increase  my 
guilt.  What,  then,  can  I  do  ?  Where  can  I 
turn?  On  what  can  I  build  any  hope  of 
mercy  ?  Why  should  God  pardon  me,  and 
give  me  heaven,  when  I  have  done,  and 
siill  do  nothing  hut  provoke  him  ?  What 
can  I,  what  must  I  do  to  bo  saved  ?  The 
gospel  indeed  says.  Believe  on  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved.  It 
tells  me  that  though  my  sins  be  of  a  crimson 
color  and  scarlet  dye,  yet  if  I  forsake  them, 
and  turn  unto  the  Lord,  he  will  abundantly 
pardon.  Why  should  not  I  believe  in  Christ, 
as  well  as  others  ?  His  blood  cleanses  from 
all  sin.  But  perhaps  I  am  too  great  a 
sinner  to  be  saved.  Yet  the  gospel  assures 
me  that  Christ  came  to  save  the  chief  of 
sinners.  Why,  then,  should  I  doubt  ?  Why 
should  I  not  believe  ?  I  must,  1  will,  I  can, 
I  do  believe ;  Lord,  help  thou  mine  unbelief. 
6 


82 


EKFF.CTS  OF  CONVF.RSION. 


EFFECTS  OF  CONVERSION. 

WTien  a  man  stands  with  his  bark  to  the 
sun,  his  own  shadow  and  the  shadows  of 
surrotniding'  objects  are  before  him.  But 
when  lie  turns  towards  the  sun,  all  these 
shadows  are  behind  liim.  Il  is  the  same  in 
spiritual  thin^.  God  is  the  great  Sun  of 
the  universe.  Compared  with  him,  creatures 
are  but  shadows.  Bui  while  men  stand 
witli  their  backs  to  God,  all  these  shadows 
are  before  them,  and  engross  their  affec- 
tions, desires  and  exertions.  On  the  con- 
trary, when  they  are  converted,  and  turn  to 
God,  all  these  shadows  are  thrown  behind 
them,  and  God  becomes  all  in  all,  so  that 
they  can  say  from  the  heart,  Whom  have 
we  in  heaven  but  thee  ?  and  there  is  none  on 
earth  that  we  desire  besides  thee. 

The  effect  produced  on  a  sinner  who  is 
brought  from  darkness  into  God's  marvel- 
lous light,  may  be  illustrated  in  the  followmg 
manner.  The  Scriptures  teach  us  that  angels 


EFFKCTS  OF  CONVF.RSION.  83 


are  continually  present  in  our  world,  and 
employed  in  executing  the  designs  of  God. 
Being  spirits,  they  are  of  course  invisible  to 
mortal  eyes.  Hence  we  are  unconscious 
of  their  presence,  and,  therefore,  are  not 
affected  liy  it.  Now,  suppose, — for  the  sup- 
position involves  no  impossibility, — that  God 
should  imparl  to  any  one  of  our  race  the 
power  of  seeing  these  active  and  benevolent 
spirits.  It  is  evident  that  this  power  would 
occasion  a  great  change  in  the  conduct  and 
feelings  of  that  man.  He  would  see  angels, 
where  other  persons  could  see  nothing.  He 
would  be  interested  by  the  sight ;  he  would 
wish  to  form  an  acquaintance  with  these 
newly-discovered  beings ;  he  would  fre- 
quently speak  of  them,  of  their  employ- 
ments and  pursuits.  .Of  course  he  would 
no  longer  be  like  other  men ;  he  would 
become,  in  one  sense,  a  new  creature,  and 
the  angels  would  appear  to  him  so  much 
more  interesting  than  other  objects,  that  his 
attention  would  be  mucJi  diverted.  Hence 
he  would  be  thought  a  visionary  or  a  dis- 
tracted man.  Now,  the  light  of  divine  truth 
does  not  make  angels  visible,  but  it  makes 


8+ 


EFFECTS  OF  COSVERSIOS. 


the  Lord  of  angels,  the  Father  of  spirits,  in 
some  sense,  visible  ;  it  makes  him,  at  least,  a 
reality  to  the  mind,  or.  in  the  language  of 
Scripture,  it  enables  men  to  feel  and  act  as 
if  ihcy  saw  Him  who  is  invisible.    It  brings 
God  into  the  circle  of  objects  by  which  we 
perceive  ourselves  to  be  surrounded  ;  and  in 
whatever  circle  he  is  seen,  he  will  be  seen 
to  be  the  most  important  object  in  it.  Now, 
if  the  sight  of  angels  would  elTect  a  change 
in  a  man's  character,  much  more  will  seeing 
the  infinite  God.    His  favor  will  appear  all 
important,  his  anger  dreadful;  all  other 
objects  will,  in  a  measure,  lose  their  interest, 
and  the  man  will  be  thought  deluded,  or 
visionary,  or  distracted. 


Suppose  a  man  engaged  in  some  enter- 
prise, for  the  success  of  which  he  is  exceed- 
ingly desirous.  He  is  surrounded,  we  will 
suppose,  by  a  number  of  persons  who  have 
it  in  their  power,  either  to  aid  or  oppose  his 
designs.  Knowing  this,  he  will,  of  course, 
make  it  his  great  object  to  secure  their 
cooperation ;  or,  at  least,  to  induce  them  not 


KFFKCTS  OK  CONVEUSION. 


85 


10  oppose  hiin.  Now,  suppose  ancllicr  per- 
son lo  lie  introduced  into  the  circle  around 
him,  possessed  of  far  greater  power  ihi.n 
any  or  all  of  these  united,  to  aid  or  oppose 
his  designs.  This  circumstance  will  produce 
a  great  alteration  in  his  views  and  feelings. 
It  will  now  he  his  great  object  lo  secure  the 
assistance  of  this  new  and  more  powerful 
personage;  and  if  he  can  obtain  this,  he  wil) 
neither  desire  the  aid  nor  Icar  the  opposition 
of  others.  To  apply  this  to  the  case  of  a 
sinner,  living  without  God,  in  the  world.— 
He  desires  lo  be  happy,  and,  for  this  purpose, 
lo  obtain  those  worldly  objects  which  h; 
deems  necessary  to  happiness.  He  finds 
himself  surrounded  by  creatures,  who  have 
power  either  lo  aid  or  oppose  him  in  pro- 
curing these  objects.  Of  course,  his  prin- 
cipal aim  is,  to  avoid  their  opposition,  and 
secure  their  friendship  and  assistance.  Now, 
suppose  this  man  lo  begin  lo  realize  thai 
there  is  a  God ;  a  being  who  superintends, 
directs,  and  governs  all  creatures  and 
events;  who  can  make  him  happy  without 
their  assistance,  or  render  him  miserable,  in 
defiance  of  all  their  endeavors  lo  prevent  it. 


86 


THE  SF.LF-CONFIUENT. 


Will  not  the  introduction  of  such  a  being 
into  llie  circle  around  him,  produce  a  great 
alteration  in  his  plans,  his  views,  and  feel- 
ings? Before  this,  he  regarded  creatures 
as  every  thing.  Now,  they  will  appear  com- 
paratively as  nothing.  Before,  God  was 
nothing  to  him.    Now,  he  will  be  all  in  all. 

THE  SELF-CONFIDENT. 

We  see  many  who  bid  high,  and  seem  to 
promise  fair  for  heaven.  They  set  out  as 
if  they  would  carry  all  before  them,  and 
say  to  Christ's  people  as  Orphah  did  to  her 
mother-in-law,  Surely  we  will  go  with  you. 
For  a  time  they  appear  to  run  well.  Like 
a  flower  plucked  from  its  stalk,  and  placed 
in  water,  they  look  fair  and  flourishing. 
Many  of  . their  sins  seem  to  be  subdued,  and 
many  moral  and  religious  duties  are  dili- 
gently practised.  But  at  length  a  day  of 
trial  comes.  Temptations  assault  them  ; 
the  world  opposes  them  ;  the  sins  which 
seemed  lo  be  dead  revive  ;  the  effect  of 
novelty  wears  off;  the  tumult  of  their  feel- 
ings subsides;  their  little  stock  of  zeeJ,  and 


81 


slrcnglh,  and  resolution,  is  exhausted  ;  and 
they  have  never  learned  to  apply  to  Christ 
for  fresh  supplies.  Then  it  appears  thai 
they  had  no  root  in  themselves.  They 
begin  to  wither. — Their  tilossonis  fall  off 
without  producing-  fruit. — ^They  first  grow 
•weary,  then  faint,  then  utterly  fall. 


He  depended  on  liimself,  and  not  on 
Christ,  on  his  own  promises  and  resolutions, 
and  not  on  Cod's. — Hence,  when  his  own 
stock  fails,  as  fail  it  must,  he  has  nothing. 
Every  one  knows  that  no  stream  can  rise 
higher  than  its  fountain  head.  It  is  the  same 
in  religion — the  stream  that  is  to  rise  as 
liin-h  as  heaven,  must  have  its  Ibuolain  head 
in  heaven.  It  mu.st  flow  from  that  river  of 
life  which  issues  out  of  the  throne  of  God 
and  of  the  Lan>l).  and  from  that  river  it 
must  be  fed,  or  it  will  dry  up. 


If,  with  a  careful  and  enlightene<l  eye,  we 
trace  the  path  of  a  numerous  church,  we 
shall  fiiid  it  strewed  wilii  the  OtIJeu,  the 


I'HRISTIAXS  DISSIMILAR. 


faialiiig^,  llie  slumbering-  and  ihe  dead,  who 
set  oul  ill  llicir  own  slreugftli,  and  have  been 
slopped,  ensnared  and  overthrown,  by  va- 
rious obstacles  and  enemies. 

CHRISTIAN'S  DISSIMILAR. 

We  must  not  expect  that  all  persons  will 
see  the  truths  of  religion  with  equal  distinct- 
ness, or  feel  an  equal  degree  of  jov,  on 
being  first  brought  from  darkness  into  God's 
marvellous  light,  ^^'hile  some  pass  in  a 
moment  from  the  deepest  distress  and 
anguish,  to  the  most  rapturous  emotions  of 
joy  and  gratitude,  others  are  introduced  so 
gradually  inio  the  kingdom,  thai  they  are 
hardly  able  to  tell  when  they  entered  it. 
The  SLi!iject  may  be  illustrated  by  the  dif- 
ferent views  and  emotions  which  would  be 
excited  in  three  blind  persons,  of  whom  one 
should  be  restored  to  sight  at  midnight, 
another  at  dawn,  and  the  third  amid  the 
splendors  of  the  meridian  sun.  The  first, 
although  his  sight  might  be  as  perfecdy 
restored  as  that  of  the  others,  would  yet 
doubt,  for  some  lime,  whether  any  change 


TES1S  OK  riKTY. 


had  been  effected  in  him,  and  tremble,  lest 
the  faint  outlines  of  llie  objcots  around  him. 
which  he  so  indistinctly  discovered,  should 
prove  to  be  the  creations  of  his  own  fancy. 
The  second,  although  he  might,  at  first,  feel 
almost  assured  of  the  change  which  had 
been  wrought  upon  him,  would  yet  experi- 
ence a  gradually-incrcflsing  confidence  and 
hope,  as  the  light  brightened  around  him, 
while  the  third,  upon  whose  surprised  and 
dazzled  vision  burst  at  once  the  refulgence 
of  mid-day,  would  be  transportefl,  bewil- 
dered, and  almost  overwhelmed,  with  the 
excess  of  surprise,  and  joy,  and  gratitude. 


DIFFERENCE  BETWEEX  THE  CHRISTIAN 
AND  THE  SINNER. 

Suppose  you  have  a  child  who  frequently 
disobeys  your  commands,  and  neglects  the 
duties  which  you  require  of  him,  yet,  if  this 
neglect  and  disobedience  seem  to  proceed 
from  thoughtlessness,  rather  than  from  a 
rebellious  disposition ;  if  he  appears  sin- 
cerely penitent,  and  every  day  comes  and 
tells  you,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  "  Father  I 


90 


TESTS   OF  PIETV. 


love  you ;  I  am  sorry  llial  I  have  done 
wrong ;  I  am  Eishamed  of  myself,  and  wonder 
that  you  have  patience  to  bear  with  me,  and 
that  you  do  not  disinherit  me;" — ^j-ou  would 
love  and  forgive  such  a  child,  and  feel  that 
there  was  hope  of  his  reformation.  But 
should  your  child  say,  or  could  you  read  the 
feeling  in  his  heart,  "  Father,  I  cajuiot  love 
you ;  I  have  never  fell  one  emotion  of  love 
towards  you ;  and  I  have  no  wish  to  obey 
your  commands would  you  not  say,  his 
Ccise  is  hopeless  ;  there  is  nothing  for  me  to 
work  upon — no  feeling,  no  affection,  no  de- 
sire to  do  right. 


Suppose  you  wished  to  separate  a  quan- 
tity of  brass  and  steel  filings,  mixed  together 
in  one  vessel,  how  would  you  effect  this 
separation  ?  Apply  a  loadslone,  and  imme- 
diately every  particle  of  iron  will  attach 
itself  to  it,  while  the  brass  remains  behind. 
Thus,  if  we  see  a  company  of  true  and  false 
professors  of  religion,  we  may  not  be  able 
to  distinguish  between  them but  let  Christ 
come  among  them,  and  all  his  sincere  fol- 


TEPTS  OK  PIETY. 


91 


lowers  will  be  atlraoled  towards  him,  as  the 
steel  is  drawn  to  the  magnet,  while  those 
who  have  none  of  his  spirit,  will  remain  al 
a  distance. 


Suppose  we  perceive  a  number  of  chil- 
dren playing-  together  in  the  street,  we 
could  not,  without  previous  knowledge,  de- 
termine who  arc  their  parents,  or  where  are 
their  homes.  Rut  let  one  of  them  receive 
an  injury,  dt  get  into  any  trouble,  and  we 
learn  who  are  his  parents,  for  he  immediately 
runs  to  them  for  relief.  Thus  it  is  with  the 
Christian  and  the  man  of  the  world.  While 
we  observe  them  together,  pursuing  the 
same  employments,  and  placed  in  the  same 
circumstances,  we  may  not  be  able  at  once 
to  distinguish  them.  But  let  afflictions  come 
upon  them,  and  we  are  no  longer  at  a  loss; 
the  man  of  the  world  seeks  relief  in  earthly 
comforts,  while  the  Christian  flies  to  his 
heavenly  Father,  his  refuge  and  support  in 
the  day  of  trouble. 


92 


FF.  \R   A^'l>  MOPR. 


FEAR  AND  HOPE. 


True  rolig'on  consists  in  a  pinper  mixture 
of  fear  of  God,  and  of  hope  in  liis  mercy  ;  and 
wherever  citlier  of  lliese  is  entirely  wanting', 
there  can  be  no  I  rue  religion.  fJod  has  joined 
these  ihins;^,  and  we  ought  by  no  means  to  put 
them  asunder.  He  cannot  take  pleasure  in 
tliose  wlio  fear  him  with  a  slavish  fear,  with- 
out hoping  iii  his  mercy,  because  they  scera 
to  consider  him  as  a  cruel  and  tyrannical 
being,  who  has  no  mercy  or  goodness  in  his 
nature;  and,  besides,  they  implicitly  charge 
him  with  fal3ehoo<I,  by  refusing  to  believe 
and  hope  in  his  invitations  and  offers  of 
mercy.  On  the  other  hand,  he  cannot  be 
pleased  with  those  who  pretend  to  hope  in 
his  mercy  without  fearing  him ;  for  they 
insult  him  by  supposing  that  there  is  nothing 
in  him  which  ought  to  be  feared  ;  and  in  ad- 
dition to  this,  they  make  him  a  liar,  by 
dlsbelievinghis  awful  threatenings  denounced 
against  sinners,  and  call  in  question  his 
authority,  by  refusing  to  obey  him.  Those 
only  who  both  fear  him  and  hope  in  his 


THK  LAW  iroNOltK.D. 


1/3 


mercy,  give  him  the  honor  thai  is  due  to  his 
name. 

THE  LAW  HONORED  IN  THE  SALVATION 
OF  THE  SINNER. 

That  the  gospel  metliod  of  jiislificalion  by 
failh  in  Christ  secures  tlie  honor  of  the  law, 
will  a|)pear  evident  if  we  consider  the  views 
and  feelings  which  it  requires  of  all  who 
would  be  justified  and  saved  by  litis  method. 
These  views  and  feelings,  taken  collectively, 
are  called  repentance  and  failh.  Repentance 
consistsinhalrcdofsin.and  sorrowon  account 
of  it.  But  sin  is  a  transgression  of  the  law. 
The  penitent  then  hates  an<l  mourns  for 
every  transgression  of  the  law  of  which  he  has 
been  guilty.  But  no  man  can  sincerely  hate 
and  mourn  over  his  transgressions  of  any 
law,  unless  he  sees  and  feels  that  it  is  a 
just  and  good  law.  If  he  does  not  see  this, 
if  the  law  which  he  has  transgressed  appears 
in  his  view  unjust,  or  not  good,  he  will  hate 
and  condenm,  not  himself,  but  the  law  and 
the  law-maker.  Every  real  penitent  ihen 
sees  and  acknowledges  lhat  the  law  which 


94 


THE  LAW  HONORKD. 


he  lias  violated,  is  holy,. and  just,  and  good 
and  glorious;  that  he  is  juslly  condemned 
by  il,  and  that  he  should  have  no  reason  to 
complain  of  God,  if  he  were  left  to  perish 
forever.  He  can  say,  I  deserve  the  curse, 
and  let  no  one  ever  think  hardly  of  God,  or 
of  his  law,  though  I  should  perish  forever. 
Ajid  can  those  who  exercise,  or  those  who 
inculcate  such  feelings  as  these,  be  justly 
accused  of  making  void,  or  of  dishonoring 
the  law  ?  Do  they  not  rather  honor  and 
establish  it,  by  taking  part  with  it  against 
themselves,  by  saying,  the  law  is  right,  and 
we  only  are  wrong  ?  To  place  this  in  a  still 
clearer  light,  permit  me  to  throw  into  the 
form  of  a  dialogue,  the  feelings  which  a 
penitent,  believing  sinner  exercises  and  ex- 
presses, when  he  applies  to  Christ  to  be 
justified  or  pardoned.  Let  us  suppose  the 
Saviour  to  say  to  such  a  person,  as  he  did 
to  those  who  applied  to  him  for  relief,  while 
on  earth.  What  wilt  thou  that  I  should  do  for 
thee?  Save  me,  Lord,  from  my  sins,  and 
from  the  punishment  which  they  deserve, 
[n  what  do  thy  sins  consist  ?  They  consist. 
Lord,  in  numberless  transgressions  of  God's 


THE   LAW   HONORFD.  95 

law.  Is  thai  law  just  or  unjust?  Lord,  it 
is  most  just.  Why,  then,  didst  thou  transgress 
il?  Because,  O  Lord,  my  licart  was  rebel- 
lious and  perverse.  Canst  thou  offer  no 
excuse,  no  plea  in  extenuation  of  thy  sins  ? 
None,  Lord ;  I  am  altogether  without  excuse, 
nor  do  1  wisli  to  ofler  any.  Is  not  the  pun- 
ishment with  which  thou  art  threatened  too 
severe  ?  No,  Lord,  I  deserve  it  all  ;  nor 
can  I  escape  it  but  through  thy  rich  mercy 
and  sovereign  grace.  Such  is,  in  effect,  the 
language  of  every  one  who  applies  to  Christ 
for  salvation;  such  the  feelings  implied  in 
the  exercise  of  repentance  and  faith. 


The  gospel  method  of  justification  sct.s 
before  us  new  and  powerful  motives  to  obey 
the  law.  For  instance,  it  presents  God,  the 
Lawgiver,  in  a  new,  and  most  interesting 
and  affecting  light.  It  shows  him  to  us  as 
the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  displaying  the  most  wonderful  com- 
passion for  our  lost  and  guilty  race,  and  so 
loving  our  revolted  world,  as  to  give  his 
only-begottcn  Son  to  die  for  its  offences. 
Of  all  the  attitudes  in  which  God  was  eve» 


sc. 


THE  LAW  HONORED. 


icvcaled  lo  his  creatures,  this  is  incompa- 
lably  the  most  interesting  and  affecting.  It 
is  indeed  interesting  to  view  Him  as  our 
Oealor,  our  Sovereign,  our  Preserver  and 
Henefactor ;  and  we  are  sacredly  bound  to 
regard  Him,  in  these  characters,  with  grati- 
tude, reverence  and  love.    But  how  much 
more  interesting  to  see  him  pitying  the  sor- 
rows which  our  own  sins  against  Him  had 
brought  upon  us,  and  taking  his  only  Son 
out  of  his  bosom,  to  give  him  up  as  a  ransom 
to  redeem  us  from  those  sorrows  !    If  God 
said  to  Abraham,  Now  I  know  that  thou 
lovest  me,  seeing  thou  hast  not  withheld  thy 
son,  thine  only  son,  from  me,  well  may  we 
say  to  God.  Lord,  now  we  know  that  thou 
lovest  us,  that  thou  dost  not  willingly  punish 
us,  that  thou  hast  no  pleasure  in  our  death, 
since  thou  hast  given  thy  Son,  ihine  only  and 
tvell-beloved  Son,  lo  die  on  the  cross  for 
our  sins.    Thus  the  gospel  method  of  salva- 
tion by  revealing  God  to  us  in  this  most 
interesting  and  affecting  lig'it,  powerfully 
urges  us  to  love  him,  to  love  his  law,  to  re- 
pent of  having  disobeyed  it,  and  to  obey  it 
hereafter. 


ADAM  OUR  BKPRKSENTATI V  E.  97 


Suppose  human  legislators  could  write 
their  laws  upon  the  hearts  of  their  subjects. 
Would  they  not  then  secure  obedience  far 
more  efl'ectually  than  they  can  now  do,  by 
all  the  penalties  which  they  annex  to  a  viola- 
tion of  their  laws  ?  Ifthey  could  g;ive  all  their 
subjects  a  disposition  to  abhor  murder,  theft, 
injustice  and  fraud,  would  they  not  secure 
life  and  property  in  the  most  perfect  manner  1 
Just  so,  if  the  law  of  God  can  be  written  in 
men's  hearts,  if  his  love  can  be  shed  abroad 
in  them,  if  they  can  be  made  holy,  it  will 
secure  obedience  to  that  law  far  more 
effectually  than  all  the  thunders  and  light- 
nings of  Sinai. 


ADAM  OUR  REPRESENTATIVE. 

It  is  sometimes  asked,  how  it  caii  be  right 
that  we  should  suffer  in  consequence  of  the 
sins  of  our  first  parents.  In  the  first  place, 
it  is  right  because  we  imitate  their  example, 
and  thus  justify  their  conduct.  We  break 
the  covenant,  and  disobey  the  law  of  God, 
as  well  as  they.  Another  answer  may  be 
given  by  considering  the  subject  in  a  differ- 
7 


93       3D  AM  OLR  RKPRESKNTATIVF- 

enl  lislH.    The  augeli  who  kepi  nol  iheii 
first  e^ale,  haJ  no  covcuaiU  liead  or  repre-- 
seolalive,  but  eacb  oiie  stood  for  himself. 
Yei  lliey  feH.    God  was  therefore  pleased, 
when  lie  made  n>aii,  to  adopt  a  dilVereul 
eonsliiiHiou  of  things  ;  aud  siiise  it  iiad  ap- 
l^arcd  that  holv  beiugs,  endowed  with  every 
possible  aiKaiitaje  for  obeying  God  s  law, 
would  disobey  it  and  ruiu  tiiemselves,  h& 
Siiougtil  proper,  iuslead  of  leaving  us,  like 
the  angels,  to  stand  for  ourseWes,  to  appoint 
a  cove'iaui  head  or  representative  lo  stand 
for  us,  aiid  to  enter  into  covenajit  with  himv 
liow,  lei  us-  suppose  (oi  a  maineut,  that  we, 
aud  Lll  the  human  race,  had  been  broughi 
kito  existence  at  once,  and  that  God  had 
proposed  u>  u*,  that  we  should  clioose  one 
of  our  number  to  be  our  representative,  and 
to  enter  into  covenant  with  him  on  our 
behaif.  Should  xve  not,  with  one  vo«^e,  have 
ehosen  our  first  parent  for  this  responsible 
office  ?    Sliould  we  not  have  said,  "  He  is  a 
perfect  inaii,  and  bears  the  image  and  like- 
ness of  God  ?    If  any  one  must  stand  or  falV 
for  us,  let  him  be  the  man."   Now,  since  the- 
aiigels,who  stood  fox  thensselves,  fel^wk* 


CHRIST  BORE  OUR  SINS.  99 


should  we  wish  lo  stand  for  oursolvcs  ?  And 
if  we  must  have  a  representative  lo  stand  for 
us,  why  should  we  complain,  wlioii  God  has 
chosen  the  same  person  for  this  offire,  that 
we  should  have  chosen,  had  we  been  in  ex- 
istence, and  capable  of  choosing  for  our- 
selves ? 

CHRIST  OUR  REPRESENTATIVE. 

Christ  "  bore  our  sins"  in  the  same  sense 
m  which  the  .lewish  sacrifices,  under  the 
law,  were  said  to  bear  the  sins  of  him  ia 
whose  behalf  they  were  presejiicd.  The 
lamb  which  was  oflcred,  <lid  no!  itself  become 
B  sinner  ;  and  as  little  did  Christ,  our  great 
Sacrifice,  become  sinful  by  bcarlnij  our  sins. 
When,  therefore,  it  is  said  that  God  laid  on 
him  the  iniquities  of  us  all,  and  that  he  bore 
our  sins  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree,  the 
meaning  is,  that  God  laid  on  him,  and  thai 
he  bore,  the  punishment  which  our  sins  de- 
served. Our  sins  were,  by  his  own  consent, 
imputed  to  him,  or,  as  the  word  signifies 
laid  to  his  account :  and  he,  in  consequence, 
though  innocent,  was  treated  as  a  sinner. 


PSALM  LXXXV.  10,  11. 


their  surety,  all  who  believe  nave  uu. 
suffered  every  ihhig  which  the  .I.vmk 
and  consequently  which  justice,  reqnir. 


him  Ihey  have  obeyed  the  law  perfectly,  in 
him  Ihey  Lave  suffered  the  curse  wh.ch  was 
due' to  sin.    He  was  made  sin  for  them  they 
are  made  rishleoas  in  him;  and  thus  he  is 
Uie  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness  to  every 
one  that  believelh.  The  law  of  God  is  more 
highly  honored  by  the  obe.lience,  and  the 
justice  of  God  more  clearly  displayed  in 
i,e  sufferings,  of  so  exalted  a  personage, 
than  they  could  have  been  by  the  ohed.ence 
or  the  sufferings  of  the  whole  human  race, 
Then,  in  the  plan  of  redemption,  God  ap- 
pears to  be,  at  once,  a  just  God  and  a  Savior^ 
thus  he  can  be  just  and  yet  the  jnst.fier  of 
him  that  believelh  in  Jesus;  and  jusl.ce  anc 
truth,  as  well   as  mercy  and  peace,  wil 
welcome  to  heaven  every  redeemed  smne 


PSAI.M   LXXXV.  10,  11.  101 


who  is  brought  (here  through  tho  merits  of 
Christ.  Thus  we  see  that  these  divine 
attributes,  which  were  set  at  variance  by  the 
fall  of  the  first  Adam,  are  re-uniled  and  satis- 
fied by  the  atonement  of  the  second.  iVlercy 
may  now  say, I  am  satisfied,  for  my  petitions  in 
behalf  of  wretched  man  have  been  answered, 
and  countless  millions  of  that  ruined  race 
will  sjng  the  praises  of  boundless  mercy  in 
heaven  forever  and  ever.  Truth  may  say, 
I  am  satisfied,  for  God's  veracity  and  faith- 
fulness remain  inviolate,  notwithslandiiif^  the 
salvation  of  sinners ;  and  not  one  word  that 
he  has  ever  spoken,  has  failed  of  its  full  ac- 
complishment. Justice  may  say,  I  am  satis- 
fied, for  the  honor  of  the  law  over  which  I 
watch,  has  lieen  secured  ;  sin  has  met  with 
deserved  punishment ;  the  Prince  of  life  has 
died  to  satisfy  my  claims ;  and  God  has 
shown  the  whole  universe  that  he  loves  me, 
even  better  than  he  loves  his  only  Son  ;  for 
when  that  Son  cried,  in  agony.  Father,  spare 
me,  and  I  demanded  that  lie  should  not  be 
spared,  God  listened  to  my  demands  rather 
than  to  his  cries.  Finally .  Peace  may  say, 
I  am  satisfied,  for  I  have  been  permitted  to 


10-2 


GROUNDS  OF  PARDON. 


proclaim  oeace  on  earih.and  have  seen  God 
reconciling  a  rebellious  worlJ  to  himself. 
Come,  then,  my  sister  allril.ules,  Mercy, 
Truth  and  Righteousness,  let  us  once  more 
be  united  in  perfect  harmony,  and  jom  to 
admire  the  plan  which  thus  reconciles  us  to 
each  other. 


SIN-NERS  PARDO.N-ED  FOR  CHRIST'S 
SAKE. 

It  w-a-s  highly  Pfopt^f  Ihat  the  unexampled 
benevolence,  humility,  and   olher  graces 
which  Christ  displayed  in  condescending  to 
obev.  suffer  and  die,  in  our  stead,  should 
receive  from  his  righteous  Father  a  suitable 
reward ;  and  that  God  should  manifest,  in  a 
signal  and  illustrious  manner,  his  approbation 
of°  such   unequalled  goodness,  to  all  his 
intelligent  creatures.    Cut  the  Son  of  God 
neither   needed,  nor   could   receive  any 
reward  for  himself;  for  he  is  the  brightness 
of  the  Father's  glory,  and  the  express  image 
of  his  person,  and  possesses,  in  the  highest 
degree,  all  possible  perreclion,  glory,  and 
felicity.   Since,  therefore,  it  was  necessary 


GROUNDS  OK  PARDON. 


103 


that  ClirisI  should  be  rewarded,  and  since 
iie  needed  no  reward  for  himself,  his  Father 
was  pleased,  in  the  covenant  of  redemption, 
to  promise  him  what  would  be  lo  his  benev- 
olent heart  the  greatest  of  all  rewards.  He 
promised  him  that  if  he  would  make  his  soul 
an  offering  for  sin,  he  should  have  a  seed 
and  people  to  serve  him  ;  and  (hat  all  his 
■spiritual  seed,  all  his  chosen  people,  wlm 
were  ^ven  him  by  his  Father,  should,  for 
iiis  sake,  and  as  a  reward  of  his  obedience, 
•suffering'  and  death,  be  saved  from  the  guilt 
and  power  of  sin,  be  adopted  as  the  children 
of  God,  made  joint  heirs  with  Christ  of  the 
■heavenly  inheritance,  and  receive,  through 
him,  every  thing  necessary  to  prepare  and 
•qualify  them  for  its  cnjoymeRt.  Thus  GoA 
bestows  everlasting:  life,  glory  and  felicity 
on  guilty  rebels,  merely  foe  the  sake  of 
Christ,  and  w'nh  a  view  to  convince  aH 
intelligent  beings,  that  he  is  infinitely  well 
pleased  with  the  holy  benevolence  which  his 
Son  displayed,  when  be  conseEted  lo  die 
CD  theif  stead. 


104  PLAN  OF  REDEMPTION. 


TEKFECTIONS    OF    GOD    DISPLATED  IS 
THE  PLAN  OF  REDEMPTION. 

There  is  more  of  God,  more   of  his 
essential  glory  displaved  in  bringing  one 
sinner  to  repentance,  and  forgiving  his  sins, 
than  in  all  the  wonders  of  creation.    In  this 
work,  creatures  may  see,  if  I  may  so  express 
it,  the  very  heart  of  God.    From  this  work, 
angels  themselves  have  prohahly  learned 
more  of  God's  moral  character  than  they 
had  ever  been  able  to  learn  before.  They 
knew  before  that  God  was  wise  and  power- 
ful •,  for  they  had  seen  him  create  a  world. 
They  knew  that  he  was  good  ;  for  he  had 
made  them  perfectly  holy  and  happy.  They 
knew  that  he  was  just ;  for  lliey  had  seen 
him  cast  down  their  own  rebellions  brethren 
from  heaven  to  hell  for  their  sins.  But 
until  they  saw  him  give  repentance  and 
remission  of  sins  through  Christ,  they  did 
not  know  thai  he  was  merciful ;  they  did  not 
know  that  he  could  pardon  a  sinner.  And 
O!  what  an  hour  was  that  in  heaven  when 
this  great  truth  was  first  made  known; 


PLAN  OK  REDEMPTION, 


when  the  first  penitent  was  pardoned! 
Then  a  new  song  was  put  into  the  mouths 
of  angels;  and  while,  with  unulterahle 
emotions  of  wonder,  love,  and  praise,  they 
began  to  sing  it,  their  voices  swelled  to  a 
higher  pitch,  and  they  experienced  joys 
unfelt  before.  O  how  did  the  joyful  sounds, 
His  mercy  endureth  forever,  spread  from 
choir  to  choir,  echo  through  the  high  arches 
of  heaven,  and  thrill  through  every  enrap- 
tured pngolic  breast;  and  how  did  ihey  cry, 
with  one  voice,  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest, 
on  earth  peace,  and  good  will  to  man  ! 


On  no  page  less  ample  than  that  of  thi? 
eternal,  all-infolding  mind  which  devised 
the  gospel  plan  of  salvation,  can  its  glories 
be  displayed  ;  nor  by  any  inferior  mind  can 
they  be  fully  comprehended.  Suffice  it  to 
sav,  that  here  the  moral  character  of  Jeho- 
vah shines  full-orbed  and  complete— hero 
all  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead,  all  the 
insufferable  splendors  of  Deity  burst,  at 
once,  upon  our  aching  sight.  Here  the 
manifold  perfections  of  God,  holiness  and 


106    THE  WORLD  WITHOUT  CHRIST. 


goodness,  jusiice  and  mercy,  irulh  and 
grace,  majesty  and  condescension,  haired 
of  sin  and  compassion  for  sinners,  are  har- 
moniously blended,  like  the  parly  colored 
rays  of  solar  light,  in  one  pure  blaze  of 
dazzling  whiteness— here,  rather  than  on 
any  other  of  his  works,  he  founds  his  claim.s 
to  the  hishest  admiration,  gratitude,  and 
iove  of  his  creatures — here  is  the  work 
which  ever  has  called  forth,  and  which 
through  eternity  will  continue  to  call  forth, 
the  most  rapturous  praises  of  the  celestial 
choirs,  and  feed  the  ever-glowing  fires  of 
devotion  in  their  breasts;  for  the  glory 
which  shines  in  the  gospel,  is  the  glory 
which  illuminates  heaven,  and  the  Lamb 
that  was  slain  is  the  light  thereof. 

COSDITIOS    OF    THE    WORLD  WITHOOT 
A  SAVIOR. 

Would  you  learn  the  full  extent  of  that 
wretchedness  which  sin  tends  to  produce, 
you  must  follow  it  into  the  eternal  world, 
and  descend  into  those  regions  where 
peace,  where  hope  never  comes;  and 


THF.   WORM)   WITHOUT  CHRIST.  107 


(here,  by  Ihe  light  of  revelation,  beliold  sin 
tyrannizing  over  its  wretched  viclinns  with 
incontrollable  fury  ;  fanning  tlie  inextinguish- 
able fire,  and  sharpening  the  tooth  of  the 
immortal  worm.  See  angels  and  archan- 
gels, thrones  and  dominions,  principalities 
and  powers,  stripped  of  all  their  primeval 
glory  and  beauty,  bound  in  eternal  chains, 
and  burning  with  rage  and  malice  against 
that  Being,  in  whose  presence  they  once 
rejoiced,  and  whose  praises  they  once  sung. 
See  multitudes  of  the  human  race,  in  unut- 
terable agonies  of  anguish  and  despair, 
cursing  the  gift,  the  Giver  and  Prolonger 
of  their  existence,  and  vainly  wishing  for 
annihilation,  to  put  a  period  lo  their  miseries. 
Follow  them  through  the  long,  long  ages  of 
eternity,  and  see  them  sinking  deeper  and 
deeper  in  the  bottomless  abyss  of  ruin,  per- 
petually blaspheming  God  because  of  their 
plagues,  and  receiving  the  punishment  of 
these  blasphemies  in  continued  additions  (o 
their  wretchedness.  Such  are  the  wages  of 
sin  ;  such  the  doom  of  the  finally  impcnileut. 
From  these  depths  of  anguish  and  despair, 
look  up  to  the  mansions  of  the  blessed,  and 


108      THE  GOSPEL  GLAD  TIDINGS. 


soe  to  what  a  heighl  of  glory  aiiU  felicity 
the  grace  of  God  will  raise  every  sinner 
that  repeiitcth.  See  those  who  are  thus 
favored  in  unutterable  ecstasies  of  joy,  love 
and  praise,  contemplating  God,  fare  to  face, 
rcfleclin;^  his  perfect  image,  shining  with  a 
splendor  like  that  of  ihcir  glorious  Redeemer, 
lilled  with  all  the  fulness  of  Deity,  and 
bathing  in  those  rivers  of  pleasure  which 
How  forever  at  God's  right  hand.  Follow 
them  in  their  endless  flight  towards  per- 
fection. See  them  rapidly  mounting  from 
height  to  height,  darting  onward  with  in- 
creasing swiftness,  and  unwearied  wing, 
towards  that  inlinily  which  they  will  never 
reach.  View  this,  and  then  say  whether 
infinite  holiness  and  benevolence  may  not, 
with  propriety,  rejoice  over  every  sinner 
lliat  repcn'.eih. 

THE  GOSPEL  CLAD  TIDINGS. 

Do  any  doubt  whether  the  gospel  is 
indeed  glad  tidings  of  great  joy  ?  Come 
with  me  to  the  garden  of  Eden.  Look  back 
to  the  hour  which  succeeded  man's  apos- 


THK  GOSPEL  GLAD  TIDIXGS.  109 


tasy.  See  the  go)den  chain  which  bound 
man  to  God,  and  God  to  man,  sundered, 
apparently  forever,  and  this  wretched  world, 
groaning  under  the  weight  of  human  guilt, 
and  its  Maker's  curse,  sinking  down,  lar 
down,  into  a  bottomless  abyss  of  misery  and 
despair.  See  that  tremendous  Being  who 
is  a  consuming  fire,  encircling  it  on  every 
side,  and  wrapping  it,  as  it  were,  in  an 
atmosphere  of  flame.  Hear  from  his  lips 
the  tremendous  senlcnrc.  Wan  has  sinned, 
and  man  must  die.  See  the  king  of  terrors 
advancing  wilh  gigantic  strides  to  execute 
the  awful  sentence,  the  grave  expanding  her 
maible  jaws  to  receive  whatever  might  fall 
before  his  wide-wasting  scythe,  and  hell 
beneath,  yawning  dreadful,  to  engulf  foro»-ei 
lis  guiliy,  helpless,  despairing  victims.  Such 
was  the  situation  of  our  ruined  race  after 
the  apostasy.  Endeavor,  if  you  can,  to 
realize  its  horrors.  Endeavor  to  forget,  for  a 
moment,  that  you  ever  heard  of  Christ  or 
his  gospel.  View  yourselves  as  immortal 
beings  hastening  to  eternity,  with  the  curse 
of  Ood's  broken  law,  like  a  flaming  sword, 
puBSuingyou;  death,  wilh  his  darl  dipped  in 


110      THE  GOSPEL  GLAD  TmiNGS. 


mortal  poison,  avvailing^  you  ;  a  dark  cloud, 
fraught  with  the  lightnings  of  divine  ven- 
geance, rolling  over  your  heads  ;  your  feet 
standing  in  slippery  places,  in  darkness,  and 
ihe  bottomless  pit  beneath  expecting  your 
fall.  Then,  when  not  only  all  hope,  but 
all  possibility  of  escape,  seemed  taken 
away,  suppose  the  flaming  sword  suddenly 
quenched  ;  the  sting  of  death  extracted ; 
the  sun  of  righteousness  bursting  forth  and 
painting  a  rainbow  on  the  before  threatening 
cloud;  a  golden  ladder  lot  down  from  the 
opening  gates  of  heaven,  while  a  choir  of 
angels,  swiftly  descending,  exclaim,  Behold, 
we  bring  you  glad  tidings  of  great  joy,  for 
unto  you  is  born  a  Savior  who  is  Christ  the 
L*rd.  Would  you,  could  you,  while  con- 
templating such  a  scene,  and  listening  to 
the  angelic  message,  doubt  whether  it  com- 
municated glad  tidings  ?  Would  you  not 
rather  unite  with  them  in  exclaiming,  Glad 
tidings  !  Glad  tidings  !  Glory  to  God  in  the 
highest,  that  there  is  peace  on  earth,  and 
i  will  to  men  ? 


CHRIST  OUR  KXAMPLK.  Hi 


CHRIST    OUR  EXAMPLE. 

It  was  highly  important  and  desirable  thai 
our  great  High  Priest  should  not  only  obtain 
for  us  the  heavenly  inheritance,  but  also  g«j 
'     before  us,  in  the  path  which  leads  to  it ;  that 
j  '  he  should  not  only  describe  Christianity  in 
j     his  discourses,  but  exemplify  it  in  his  life 
:     and  ronversaiion.    This  our  blessed  Savior 
]     has  done.    In  him  we  see  pure  and  unde- 
fited  religion  imbodied.   In  him  Christianity 
lives  and  breathes.    And  how  amiable,  how 
interesting  does  she  there  appear!  How 
convincing,  how  animating  is  our  Savior's 
example  1     How  loudly,  how  persuasively, 
does  his  conduct  preach  !    Wonld  you  leant 
submission  to  parental  anlhotity  ?    See  him, 
notwithstanding  his  exalted  character,  cheer- 
fully subjecting  himself  to  the  will  of  his 
parents,  and  laboring  with  them,  as  a  me- 
•     rhanic,  for  almost  thirty  years.    Would  yon 
learn  contentment  with   a  poor  and  low 
J     condition  ?     See  him  de.slitute  of  a  place 
j     where  to  lay  his  head.    Would  you  learu 


112      »  CHRIST  OUR  EXAMPLE. 


•  active  beneficence  ?  See  him  going  about 
doing  good.  Would  j  ou  Icam  to  be  fervent 
and  constant  in  devotional  exercises  ?  See 
liini  rising  for  prayer  before  the  dawn  of 
(!ay.  Would  you  learn  in  what  manner  to 
treat  your  brethren  ?  See  him  washuig  his 
disciples'  feel.  Would  you  learn  filial 
piety  ?  See  him  forgetting  his  sufferings, 
while  in  the  agonies  of  death,  to^rovide 
another  son  for  hi.s  desolate  mother.  Would 
you  learn  in  what  manner  to  pray  for  relief 
under  afflictions  ?  See  him  in  the  garden. 
Would  you  learn  how  to  bear  insults  and 
injuries  ?  See  him  on  the  cross.  In  short, 
there  is  no  Christian  grace  or  virtue,  which 
it  was  proper  for  a  perfectly  innocent  being 
to  possess,  which  is  not  beaulifullv  exempli- 
fied in  bis  life  ;  and  there  is  scarce  any  situ- 
ation, however  perplexing,  in  which  the 
Christian  who  is  at  a  loss  to  know  how  he 
ought  to  act,  may  not  derive  sufficient  in- 
struction from  the  example  of  his  divine 
Master. 


CHRIST  A  TKACHKR. 


113 


CHRIST  A  TEACHER. 

A  celebralcd  philosoplier  of  anliqiiity, 
who  was  accustomed  to  receive  large  sums 
from  his  pupils,  in  return  for  liis  instructions, 
was  one  day  accosted  by  an  indigent  youth, 
who  requested  admission  into  the  number  of 
his  di|f  iplcs.  "  And  what,"  said  llie  sage, 
"  will  you  give  me  in  return  ?"  "  I  will 
give  you  myself;"  was  the  reply.  "1 
accept  the  gill,"  answered  the  sage,  "  and 
engage  to  restore  you  to  yourself,  at  some 
future  period,  much  more  valuable  than  you 
are  at  prcsonl."  In  similar  language  does 
our  great  Teacher  address  those  who  apply 
to  him  for  instruction,  conscious  that  they 
are  unable  to  purchase  his  instructions,  and 
oflering  to  give  him  themselves.  He  will 
readily  accept  the  gift ;  he  will  educate  them 
for  heaven,  and  will,  at  length,  restore  them 
to  iheuiselves,  incomparalily  more  wise, 
more  happy,  and  more  valuable,  than  when 
he  received  them. 
8 


114     REASONS   FOR   LOVING  CHRIST. 


SONG  OF  SOLOMON,  V.  9. 

Does  iTol  our  Friend  as  far  excel  all  olhez 
friends,  as  heaven  exceeds  earlh,  as  eternity 
exceeds  tinvc,  as  the  Creator  surpasses  his 
freatures?  If  you  doubt  iliis,  bring  together 
all  llie  glory,  pomp  aiul  beauty  of  the  world; 
□ay,  assemble  every  thing  that  is  gr«at  and 
excellent  in  all  the  vvorlds  that  ever  were 
created ;  collect  all  the  creatures  which  the 
breath  of  Omnipotence  ever  summoned  into 
being, — and  we,  on  our  parts,  will  place 
beside  them  our  Savior  and  Friend,  thai 
you  may  see  whether  they  will  bear  a  com- 
parison with  him.  Look,  then,  first  at  3'our 
idols ;  behold  the  vast  assemblage  wliich 
you  have  collected,  and  then  turn  and  con- 
template our  Beloved.  See  all  the  fulness 
nf  the  Godhead,  dwelling  in  one  who  is 
meek  and  lowly  as  a  chilil.  See  his  coun- 
icnance  beaming  with  ineffable  glories,  full 
of  mingled  majesty,  corKlescension  and  love, 
and  hear  the  soul-reviving  invitations  which 
proceed  from  his  lips.  See  that  hand  in 
which  dwells  everlasting  strength,  swaying 


(HHIST   THK.   BKSr   l  UtJM).  115 


the  scoplre  of  uiiivcrsiil  empire  over  all 
crealures  and  all  worlds ;    soc  his  arms 
expanded  lo  receive  and  embrace  rcuirning 
sinners,  wliilc  his  heart,  a  botlomloss.  shore- 
less ocean  of  benevolence,  overflows  with 
tenderness,  compassion,  and  love.     In  a 
word,  see  in  him  all   natural  and  moral 
excellence,  personified,  and  imbodicd  in  a 
resplendent   form,  compared   with  whose 
eflTulgeiil,  dazzling  glories,  the  splendors  of 
the  meridian  sun  are  dark.     He  speaks, 
and  a  world  emerges  from  nothing.  He 
frowns,  and  it  sinks  to  nothing  again.  He 
waves  his  hand,  and  all  the  creatures  which 
you  have  collected  to  rival  him,  sink  and 
disappear.    Such,  O  sinner,  is  our  Beloved, 
and  such  is  our  Friend.    Will  you  not  then 
embrace  him  as  ^our  Friend  ?     If  you  can 
be  persuaded  to  do  this,  yoti  will  find  thai 
the  one  half,  nay,  that  the  thousandth  pari 
lias  not  been  told  you. 


CIiniST  THE  BEST  OF  FRIENDS. 


All  the  excellency,  glory  and  beauty, 
which  IS  found  in  men  or  angels,  flows  from 


IIG       ClllUST  THK  BEST  KRI  KND- 


Christ,  as  a  drop  of  water  from  the  ocean, 
or  a  ray  of  light  from  tlic  sun.    If,  then,  you 
supremely  love  the  creature,  can  you  wonder 
that  Cluislians  should  love  the  Creator? 
If  you  admire  an  image  in  a  glass,  is  it 
strange  that  they  should  admire  the  suu  by 
which  it  was  painted.    Can  you  wonder  that 
Uiose  who  behold  the  glory  of  God,  in  the 
face  of  Jesus  Christ,  should  be  sweetly 
drawn  to  him  by  the  cords  of  love,  and  lose 
their  fondness  for  created  glories  ?    All  that 
you  love  and  admire,  and  wish  for,  in  crea- 
tures, and,  indeed,  intinilely  more,  they  find 
in  him.    Do  you  wish  for  a  friend  possessed 
of  power  to  protect  you  ?    Our  Friend  pos- 
sesses all  power  in  heaven  and  earth,  and 
is  able  to  save  even  to  the  uttermost.  Do 
you  wish  for  a  wise  and  experienced  fiiendl 
In  Christ  arc  hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom 
and  Un  .wle.lge.    Do  you  wish  for  a  tender, 
compassionate  friend  ?    Christ  is  tenderness 
and  CO  npiss^on  itself.    Do  you  wish  for  a 
faithful,  unchanfeable  friend  7    With  Christ 
there  is  no   variiblcncss,  nor  shadow  of 
tm-mn-;  but  I'e  is  the  same  yesterday,  lo- 
Uiv  and  forever.    His  uncliangeable  love 


INVITATIONS  OF  CHKIST.  117 


will  ever  prompt  him  to  make  his  people 
happy;  his  unerring  wisdom  will  point  out 
llie  best  means  to  promote  their  happiness  ; 
and  his  inHiiite  power  will  cnahle  him  to 
employ  those  means.  In  all  these  respects, 
our  Beloved  is  more  than  another  beloved  ; 
for  rrcalnres  are  not  always  disposed  to 
render  us  happy:  when  they  are  disposed 
to  do  it,  []\cy  do  not  always  know  how;  and 
when  they  know  how,  they  arc  often  unable. 
Belter  is  ii,  therefore,  to  trust  in  Christ,  than 
to  put  confidence  in  princes. 


INVITATIONS    OF    CHRIST    TO  THE 
WEARY  AND  OPPRESSED. 

To  all  who  are  afflicted  eilher  in  body, 
mind  or  estate  ;  all  whose  worhlly  hopes  and 
prospects  have  been  blasted  by  losses  and 
disappoiiilnicnts  ;  all  who  are  weeping  over 
the  {^rave  of  some  near  and  dear  relative; 
the  lansfuagc  of  Christ  is,  Cast  your  burden 
upon  me,  and  I  will  sustain  tlice  ;  call  upon 
me  now  in  the  day  of  trouble,  anil  I  will 
answer  thee.  You  have  found  that  earthly 
friends  and  relations  die; — come,  then,  to 


118    ClIRlSr  s  DlSl'I.EASUItlC  AT  SIN. 

me,  and  find  n  Friend  who  cannol  die;  one 
who  will  nnvcT  leave  nor  forsake  you,  in 
life  or  denlh.  You  have  found  lhat  treas- 
ures laid  up  on  earth,  make  to  iheinsclvcs 
wings  a!id  fly  away ; — come,  then,  to  me, 
and  I  will  give  you  treasures  which  never 
fail,  and  make  you  heirs  of  the  heavenly 
inheriianco.  No  longer  spend  your  money 
for  lhat  which  is  not  bread,  and  your  labor 
for  that  which  satisfielh  not;  but  hearken 
diligently  to  my  call,  and  come  unio  me, 
hear,  and  your  souls  shall  live;  and  I  will 
make  an  t-verlasling  covenant  with  you, 
even  the  sure  mercies  of  David. 

Christ's  displeasure  at  sin. 

We  read  of  Christ's  being  angry  but  llirse 
times  (luring  the  whole  period  of  his  resi- 
dence on  earth,  and  in  each  of  Ihose  in- 
stance":, his  anger  was  excited  nut  by  insults 
or  injurii-s  offered  to  himself,  but  by  conduct 
which  tended  to  interrupt  or  frustrate  his 
benevolent  exertions  in  doing  good.  When 
he  was  reviled  as  a  man  gluttonous,  intem- 
perate, and  possessed  by  a  devil,  he  was 


Christ's  dispi.easuhk  at  sin.  119 

nol  angry  ;  when  he  was  buffeted,  spii  upon, 
and  crowned  wilh  ihorns,  he  was  nol  angrry ; 
when  nailed  to  the  cross,  and  loaded  with 
insults  in  his  last  agonies,  he  was  not  aiig^-y. 
But  when  his  disciples  forbade  parents  to 
bring  their  infant  children  to  receive  his 
blessing;  when  Peter  endeavored  to  dissuade 
him  from  dying  for  sinners ;  and  when  sin- 
ners, hy  their  hardness  of  heart,  rendered  his 
intended  dealh  of  no  service  to  themselves, 
—then  he  was  angry  and  much  displeased. 

Suppose  a  person  whom  you  had  found 
deserted  in  the  streets  when  an  infant,  and 
adopted  and  educated  as  j-our  own,  should, 
when  arrived  to  manhood,  roh  and  attempt 
to  murder  you.  Suppose  him  tried,  con- 
victed, condemned,  and  confined  to  await 
the  execution  of  his  sentence.  You  pity 
him,  forgive  him,  and  wish  to  save  his  life. 
You  (ly  to  the  proper  authority,  and  after 
much  expense  and  labor,  obtain  an  assur- 
ance that  if  he  will  confess  his  crime,  he 
shall  be  pardoned.  You  hasten  to  his  dun- 
geon to  communicate  the  happy  intelligence. 
Bui  he  refuses  to  hear  you,  believe  you,  or 
confess  fais  fault ;  regards  you  with  aversion, 


120 


DKATH   OK  CHRIST. 


suspicion  or  coiilempl,  and  lums  a  deaf  ear 
to  your  prayers  and  entreaties.  Would  you 
not  be  unutterably  shocked,  disappointed 
and  grieved  ?  Wial,  then,  must  be  the  feel- 
ings ..of  Christ,  when  treated  in  a  similar 
manner  by  those  whom  he  died  to  save  ! 
Well  may  he  look  on  them  with  anger, 
being  grieved  for  the  hardness  of  their 
hearts. 

DE.^TH  OF  CHRIST. 

Come  with  us  a  moment  to  Calvary. 
See  the  meek  sufferer  standing,  with  hands 
fest  bound,  iu  the  midst  of  his  enemies, 
sinking  under  the  weight  of  his  cross,  and 
lacerated  in  every  part,  by  the  thorny  reeds 
with  which  he  had  been  scourged.  See  the 
savage,  ferocious  soldiers  raising,  with  rude 
violence,  his  sacred  body,  forcing  it  down 
upon  the  cross,  wresting  and  e.\tending  his 
limbs,  and,  with  remorseless  cruelly,  forcing 
through  his  hands  and  feet  the  ragged  spikes 
which  were  to  fix  him  on  it.  See  the  Jewish 
priests  and  rulers  watching,  with  looks  of 
malicious  pleasure,  the  horrid  scene,  and  at- 
tempting to  increase  his  sufferings  by  scofB 


and  blasphemies.  Now  conlemi.lale  alten- 
tivcly  llie  countenance  of  tlic  wonderful 
sufferer,  which  seems  like  heaven  opening 
in  the  midst  of  hell,  and  tell  me  what  it  ex- 
presses. You  see  it  indeed  full  of  anguish, 
but  it  expresses  nothing  like  impatience, 
resentment,  or  revenge.  On  the  contrary, 
il  beams  with  pity,  benevolence,  and  for- 
giveness. It  perfectly  corresponds  with  the 
prayer,  which,  raising  his  mild,  imploring 
eyes  to  heaven,  he  pours  forth  to  God— 
Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not 
what  they  do.  Christian,  look  at  your  Mas- 
ter, and  learn  how  to  suffer.  Sinm  r,  look 
at  yonr  Savior,  and  learn  lo  admire,  to  imi- 
Ule,  and  to  forgive. 


SIFFERINGS  OF  CHUIST. 

It  has  been  supposed  by  many,  that  the 
suffcrin-s  of  Christ  were  rather  apparent 
than  real;  or  at  least  that  liis  abunrlant 
consolations,  and  his  knowledge  of  the  nappy 
consequences ->vhlch  woul.l  result  from  his 
death,  rendered  his  sorrows  comparatively 
light,  and  almost  couvcricd  ihcm  to  joys. 


122  SUKFF.KINGS  OF  CHrilST 


]?ul  never  v«as  su|)poiilion  more  erroneous. 
Jesus  Clirisl  was  as  truly  a  man  as  eillier  of 
us  5  and,  as  man,  he  was  as  really  susceptible 
of  grief,  as  keenly  alive  to  pain  and  reproach, 
and  as  much  averse  from  pain  and  suffering, 
as  any  of  tlie  descendants  of  Adam.  As  to 
divine  consolations  and  supports,  they  were 
at  all  times  bestowed  on  him  in  a  very  spar- 
ing maimer,  and  in  the  season  of  his  greatest 
extremity  entirely  withheld  ;  and  though  a 
knowledge  of  the  happy  consequences 
which  would  result  from  his  sufferings  ren- 
dered him  willing  to  endure  them,  it  did  not 
in  the  smallest  degree  lake  off  their  edge,  or 
render  !iim  insensible  to  pain.  No,  his  suf- 
ferings, instead  of  lieing  less,  were  incom- 
parably greater  than  they  appeared  to  be. 
No  finite  mind  can  conceive  of  their  extent, 
nor  was  any  of  the  human  race  ever  so  well 
entitled  to  the  appellation  of  the  man  of 
sorrows,  as  the  man  Christ  Jesus. 


As  Christ  died  for  all,  so  he  felt  and  wept 
for  the  sufferings  of  all.  The  temporal  and 
eternal  calamities  of  the  whole  human  race, 


I,OVK  OF  CH  i<  isr. 


V23 


and  ol'  every  individiinl  amonc;  ilicm  all, 
seemed  lo  be  collected  and  laid  upon  liini. 
He  saw,  al  one  view,  the  whole  mi^hly  vc;' 
grej^ale  of  luiinan  giilU  and  liuman  wrelcli- 
edness,  and  his  boundless  benevolenre  and 
compassion  made  it,  by  sympathy,  all  his 
own.  It  has  been  said  by  philosophers,  thai 
if  anv  man  could  see  all  the  misery  which  is 
daily  felt  in  the  world,  he  would  never  smile 
again.  We  need  not  wonder,  then,  that 
Christ,  who  saw  it  all,  never  smiled,  though 
he  often  wept. 

I.OVE  OF  CHRIST. 

In  order  to  form  some  faint  conception  of 
the  love  of  Christ,  suppose,  my  Christian 
frienils,  that  all  your  toils  and  sufferings  were 
ended,  and  you  were  safely  arrived  in 
heaven,  the  rest  which  remains  for  the  people 
of  Cod.  Suppose  that  you  were  (here 
crowned  with  glory,  and  honor,  and  immor- 
tatiiy,  listening  with  lumtlerablc  ecstasies  to 
the  S(inc;s  of  the  redeemed,  conlemp.laling 
the  inrlThble,  unveiled  glories  of  .leliovah, 
drinking  full  draughts  from  those  rivers  of 


121 


LOVE  OF  CHRIST. 


pleasure  wliicli  flow  forever  nl  his  riglil  hand, 
and  lastin:;  those  joys  which  the  hciirl  of  man 
hath  not  conceived.  What  would  tempi  you 
lo  revisit  this  vale  of  tears,  commence  anew 
the  wearisome  journey  of  life,  aii<l  encounter 
all  the  toils,  the  temptations,  the  sutTerin<;s 
and  sorrows  which  attend  it?  Musi  it  not 
be  love  stronj^cr  than  death,  love  such  as 
you  cannot  conceive  of,  which  would  induce 
you  to  do  this  1  How  infinite,  how  incon- 
ceivable, then,  must  have  been  that  love 
which  brnu^lit  down  the  Son  of  God  from  the 
celestial  world  to  redeem  our  ruined  race! 
which  led  him  to  exclinngc  the  bosom  of  his 
Father  for  a  veil  of  flesh  ;  the  adorations  of 
an!^cls  for  the  scofls  and  insults  of  sinners: 
and  the  enjoyment  of  eternal  life  for  an  ac- 
cursed, painful  and  ignominious  death! 
Nothing  but  love  could  have  done  this.  Not 
all  the  powers  of  heaven,  earth  and  hell 
combined,  could  have  dragged  him  from  his 
celestial  throne,  and  wrested  the  sceptre  of 
the  universe  from  his  hands.  No,  it  was 
love  alone,  divine,  omnipotent  love,  which 
drew  him  down  ;  it  was  in  the  bands  of  love 
that  he  was  led  a  willing  captive,  through  all 


I.OVF.  OK  CHRIST. 


125 


the  mils  aiid  suflerings  of  a  laborious  life; 
and  it  was  lliese  bands  wliich  bound  liiin  at 
the  bar  of  Pilate,  which  fellerpd  liis  arm  of 
everlasting  strength,  and  prevented  his  blast- 
ing  his  murderers. 

Unless  \vc  could  ascend  into  heaven,  and 
see  the  glory  and  happiness  which  our  Re- 
deemer left ;  unless  we  could  descend  into 
the  grave,  and  learn  the  depths  of  wretched- 
ness to  which  he  sunk;  unless  we  could 
weigh,  as  in  a  balance,  all  the  trials,  toils 
and  suficrings  of  his  life ;  never,  never  can 
we  know  the  immeasurable  extent  of  his 
love.  But  these  things  we  cannot  do.  None 
but  the  omniscient  God  knows  what  he  left, 
or  what  he  suffered  ;  none  but  the  omniscient 
God,  therefore,  knows  the  extent  of  his  love. 

To  think  of  the  love  of  Christ,  is  like  trying 
to  conceive  of  existence  which  lias  no  be- 
ginning, and  of  power  which  can  make 
something  of  nothing.  Tongue  cannot  de- 
scribe it ;  finite  minds  cannot  conceive  of  it  • 


12G  SKLJ'-DKNIAI,  OF  CIIUIST. 


anjols  I'aiiit  under  it ;  and  those  wlio  know 
most  of  it  can  only  say,  willi  inspiration, 
that  it  passeth  knowledge. 

SELF-DENIAL  OF  CHRIST. 

The  life  of  Clirist  was  one  of  self-denial, 
lie  denied  himself,  for  thirty  years,  all  the 
g^lories  and  felicity  of  the  heavenly  world  ; 
and  exposed  himself  to  all  the  pains  and 
sorrows  of  a  life  on  earth.  He  denied  him- 
self the  praises  and  adorations  of  saints  and 
angels  ;  and  exposed  himself  to  the  blas- 
phemies and  reproaches  of  men.  He  denied 
himself  the  presence  and  enjoyment  of  God; 
and  exposed  himself  to  the  society  of  pub- 
licans and  sinners.  He  denied  himself  every 
thing'  that  nature  desires  ;  he  exposed  him- 
self to  every  thing  she  dreads  and  abhors ; 
to  poverty,  contempt,  pain  and  death.  When 
he  entered  on  his  glorious  and  godlike  design, 
he  renounced  all  regard  to  his  own  comfort 
and  convenience,  and  took  up  the  cross,  a 
cross  infinitely  heavier  and  more  painful  than 
any  of  his  disciples  have  t>een  called  to  bear, 
and  continued  to  carry  it  through  a  rough 


chkist's  reward. 


127 


and  llioriiy  rood,  till  his  human  nature,  ex- 
hausted, sunk  under  the  weig;lit.  In  short, 
he  considered  himself,  his  time,  his  talents, 
his  reputation,  his  happiness,  his  very  exist- 
ence, as  not  his  own,  hut  another's  ;  and  he 
ever  employed  them  accordingly.  lie  lived 
not  for  himself,  he  died  not  for  himself;  bul 
for  others  he  lived,  and  for  others  lie  died. 


HE  SHALL  SEE  OF  THE  TRAVAIL  OF 
HIS  SOUL. 

How  great,  how  inconceivable  will  he  oui 
Savior's  happiness,  after  the  final  consum- 
mation of  all  lhiu2fs  1  Then  tlie  plan  for 
which  our  world  was  formed  will  he  com- 
pleted. Then  every  member  of  the  church, 
for  the  sake  of  which  he  loved  and  visited 
our  world,  will  have  been  brou<;hl  home  to 
heaven,  to  be  with  him  where  he  is.  And  if 
he  loved,  and  rejoiced,  and  delighted  in  ihem 
before  they  existed,  and  beferc  they  know 
and  loved  him,  how  will  he  love  and  rejoice 
in  them  when  he  sees  them  surrounding-  liis 
throne,  perfectly  rcsemblinir  himself  in  body 
and  soul;  lovin;;  him  with  unutterable  love, 


128 


contemplaliiiy  liim  vviili  ineffable  delight,  and 
praising  liim  as  ihcir  deliverer  from  sin,  and 
dealh,  and  licll ;  as  the  aullior  of  all  their 
everlasting  glory  and  felicity  1  Then, — O 
blessed,  animating  thought ! — he  will  be 
amply  rewarded  for  all  his  sufferings,  and 
for  all  his  love  to  our  ruined  race ;  then  his 
people  shall  cease  to  grieve  and  offend  him  ; 
then  they  shall  no  longer  degrade  him  by 
weak,  confused,  inadequate  conceptions  of 
his  person,  character,  and  work  ;  for  then 
shall  they  see  as  they  are  seen,  and  know 
even  as  they  are  known.  Then  the  whole 
church  shall  be  presented  to  liim,  a  glorious 
church,  without  spot  or  blemish,  or  imper- 
fection ;  and  shall  be  as  a  crown  of  glory  in 
the  hand  of  the  Lord,  and  as  a  royal  diadem 
in  the  hand  of  our  God.  Then,  O  Zion,  as 
a  bridegroom  rejoiceth  over  the  bride,  so 
.shall  thy  God  rejoice  over  thee.  'I'hen  shall 
thy  sun  no  more  go  down,  nor  lliy  moon 
withdraw  itself ;  but  the  Lord  shall  he  thine 
everlasting  light,  and  thy  God,  thy  glory; 
and  the  days  of  thy  mourning,  and  of  ihy 
Savior's  suffering,  shall  be  ended. 


Christ's  reward.  129 

If  we  love,  and  prize,  and  rejoice  in  any 
object,  in  proportion  to  the  labor,  pain,  and 
expense  which  it  has  cost  us  to  obtain  it, 
how  greatly  must  Christ  love,  and  prize, 
and  rejoice  in  every  penitent  sinner!  His 
love  and  joy  must  be  unutloralilc,  inconceiv- 
able, infinite.  For  once,  I  rejoice  that  our 
Savior's  toils  and  sufTerings  were  so  great, 
since  the  greater  they  were,  the  greater 
must  be  his  love  for  us,  and  his  joy  in  our 
conversion.  And  if  he  thus  rojoiceth  over 
one  sinner  that  rcpenteth,  what  must  be  his 
joy,  when  all  his  people  are  collected,  out 
of  every  tongue,  and  kindred,  and  people, 
aiid  nation,  and  presented  spotless  before 
his  Father's  throne !  What  a  full  tide  of 
felicity  will  pour  in  upon  him,  and  how  will 
his  benevolent  heart  expand  with  unutterable 
delight,  when,  contemplating  the  countless 
myriads  of  the  redeemed,  he  says.  Were  it 
not  for  my  sufferings,  all  those  immortal 
beings  would  have  been,  throughout  eternity, 
as  miserable,  and  now  they  will  be  as  happy, 
as  God  can  make  them  '.  It  is  enough.  I 
see  of  the  travail  of  my  soul,  and  am  satisfied. 
9 


130       CONDESCENSION  OF  CHRIST. 


CONDESCENSION  AND  LOTE  OF  CHRIST. 

The  meanest  beggar,  the  vilest  wretch, 
the  most  loathsome,  depraved,  abandoned 
sinner,  is  perfectly  welcome  to  the  arms  and 
the  heart  of  the  Savior,  if  he  comes  wilh 
the  temper  of  the  penitent  prodigal.    To  all 
who  come  with  this  temper,  he  ever  lends  a 
gracious  ear;  he  listens  to  catch  the  first 
penitential  sigh  ;  be  watches  their  first  feeble 
steps  towards  the  path  of  duty  ;  he  prevents 
them  with  his  grace,  hastens  to  meet  them, 
and  while  they  are  ready  to  sink  at  his  feet 
with  mingled  shame,  confusion  and  grief, 
he  puts  underneath  tliem   his  everlasting 
arms,  embraces,  cheers,  supports  and  com- 
forts them  ;  wipes  away  their  tears,  washes 
away  their  stains,  clothes   them  with  his 
riglileousness,  unites  them  to  himself  forever, 
and  feeds  them  with  the  bread  and  water  of 
life.    Thus  he  binds  up  the  broken  reed,  en- 
kindles the  smoking  flax,  and,  like  a  mosi 
tender,  compassionate  shepherd,  gathers  the 
helpless  lambs  in  his  arms,  and  carries  them 
•  in  his  bosora.    Thus,  by  the  condescending 


CONDESCENSION  OF  CHRIST. 


131 


grace  of  our  Immanucl,  heaven  is  brought 
down  to  earth  ;  the  awful  majesty,  and  inac- 
cessible glories  of  Jehovah,  are  shrouded  in 
a  veil  of  flesh  ;  a  new  and  living  way  is 
opened  for  our  return  to  God  ;  and  sinful, 
guilty  worms  of  the  dust  may  talk  with  their 
Maker  face  to  face,  as  a  man  talkelh  with 
liis  friend. 


Trembling  sinner,  desponding  Christian, 
permit  me  to  take  you  by  the  hand  and  lead 
you  to  Jesus.  Why  do  you  linger,  why  do 
you  hang  back  ?  It  is  to  Christ,  it  is  to 
Jesus,  it  is  to  the  Babe  of  Bethlehem,  to  a 
man  like  yourselves,  to  the  meek  and  lowly 
Savior  of  sinners,  thai  I  would  bring  you. 
Here  are  no  terrors,  no  flaming  sword,  no 
burning  throne  to  appal  you.  Come,  then,  to 
his  feet,  to  his  arms,  to  his  heart,  which 
overflows  with  compassion  for  your  perishing 
souls.  Come  and  contemplate  the  glory  of 
the  only-begotten  of  the  Father,  full  of  grace 
and  truth,  and  receive  of  his  fulness  grace 
for  grace. 


132       CONDESCENSION  OF  CHRIST. 


COMPASSION  AND  COND  ASCENSION  OF 
CHRIST. 

Fear  not,  says  the  Savior  to  liis  penitent, 
heart-broken  disciple.    Fear  not,  trembling, 
despondi.is  soul.    My  glory,  my  perfections 
need  not  alarm  thee,  for  ihey  are  all  engaged 
on  thy  side,  all  pledged  to  secure  thy  salva- 
tion.   Tell  me  not  of  thy  sins.    I  will  take 
Ihem  away.    Tell  me  not  of  thy  weakness, 
thy  folly  and  ignorance.    I  have  treasures 
of  wisdom  and  knowledge,  and  strength  for 
thee.    Tell  me  not  of  the  weakness  of  thy 
graces.    My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee,  for 
its  riches  are  unsearchable.    Tell  me  not  of 
the  difficulties  which  oppose  thy  salvation. 
Is  any  thing  too  hard  for  me  ?    Tell  me 
not  that  the  favors  thou  art  receiving  are 
loo  great  for  thee.    I  know  they  are  too 
great  for  thee  to  merit,  but  they  are  not  too 
great  for  me  to  give.    Nay,  more,  I  will  give 
thee  greater  things  than  these.    I  will  not 
only  continue  to  pardon  thy  sins,  beat  with 
thine  infirmities,  and  heal  thy  backslidings  ; 
but  give  thee  larger  and  larger  measures  of 


LANGUAGE  OF  PENITENCE.  133 


my  gn^ace,  make  lliee  more  and  more  useful 
in  the  world,  render  lliee  more  llian  a  con- 
queror over  all  lliine  enemies,  and  at  deatli 
wipe  away  forever  all  thy  tears;  receive 
Ihee  to  the  mansions  which  my  Father  has 
prepared  for  ihee  in  heaven,  and  cause 
thee  to  sit  down  with  me  on  my  throne  for- 
ever and  ever.  Thus  does  Christ  comfort 
those  that  mourn ;  thus  he  encourajjcs  the 
(J^spondin<f,  thus  exalts  those  that  humble 
themselves  at  his  feet ;  and  constrains  them 
to  cry,  in  admirinpf  transports  of  <;^ratitude 
and  love.  Who,  O  who  is  a  God  like  unto 
thee,  forgiving;  iniquity,  transgression  and 
sin? 

DEPART  FROM    ME,  FOR  I  AM  A  SINFUL 
MAN.,  O  LORD. 

As  our  views  of  our  own  sinfulness,  and 
of  the  abominable  malignity  of  sin,  are 
always  in  direct  proportion  to  our  views  of 
the  divine  purity  and  glory,  the  Christian 
nqver  appears  to  himself  so  unspeakalilv 
vile,  so  totally  unworthy  of  his  Savior's 
love,  or  so  unfit  to  enjoy  his  presence,  as  ni 


ISir        I,  VNGUAGK  OF  PENITF.NCE. 


the  very  time  when  he  is  favored  with  these 
blessings,  in  the  highest  degree.    The  con- 
sequence is  that  he  is  astonished,  confound- 
ed, crushed  and  overwhelmed  by  a  display 
of  goodness  so  undeserved,  so  unexpected. 
When  he  had  perhaps  been  ready  to  con- 
clude that  he  was  a  vile  hypocrite,  and  to  give 
up  all  for  lo>t ;  or,  if  not,  to  fear  that  God 
would  bring  upon  him  some  terrible  judg- 
ment for  his  sins,  and  make  him  an  exampl^ 
to  others— then  to  see  his  much-insulted 
Savior,  his  neglected  Benefactor,  his  in- 
jured Friend,  suddenly  appear  to  deliver 
him  from  t'.ia  consequences  of  his  own  folly 
and  ingratitude ;  to  see  him  come  with  smiles 
and  blessings,  when  he  expected  nothing  but 
upbraidings,  thrcatcnlngs,  and  scourges— it 
is  too  much ;  he  knows  not  how  to  bear  it ; 
he    scarcely  dares  take  the  consolation 
offered  him  ;  he  thinks  it  must  be  all  a  delu- 
sion.    Even  when  convinced,  beyond  a 
doubt,  that  it  is  not  so ;  when  he  feels  the 
healing  virtue  of  his  kind  Physician,  pervad- 
mg  his" whole  soul,  and  sees  him  stooping  to 
cleanse,  to  comfort,  and  embrace  him,  he 
shrinks  back,  iii'voluntarily,  as  if  the  spotless 


LANGUAGE  OF  PK.NITF.NCE.  I3j 

Savior  would  be  contaminated  by  his  loiicli ; 
sinks  down  ashamed  and  broken-hearted  at 
his  feel;  feels  unworthy  and  unable  to  look 
up;  and  the  more  condescendingly  Christ 
sloops  to  embrace  him,  so  much  lower  and 
lower  does  he  sink  in  the  dust.    At  length 
his  emotions  find  utterance,  and  he  cries,  O 
Lord,  treat  me  not  thus  kindly.    Such  favors 
belong  to  those,  only,  who  do  not  requite  thy 
\ovi  as  I  have  done.    How  can  it  be  just, 
how  can  it  be  right  to  give  them  to  one  so 
undeserving?     Thy  kindness  is  lavished 
upon  mc  in  vain ;  thy  mercies  are  thrown 
away  upon  one  so  incorrigibly  vile.    If  thou 
pardon  me  now,  I  shall  offend  thee  again  ;  if 
thou  heal  my  backslidings,  I   shall  again 
wander  from  thee  ;  if  thou  cleanse  me,  T  shall 
again  become  polluted  :  thou  must,  O  Lord- 
give  me  up -thou  must  leave  me  to  perish, 
and  bestow  thy  favors  on  those  who  are  less 
unworthy,  less  incurably  prone  to  offend 
thee.    Such  are  often  the  feelings  of  the 
broken-hearted  penitent ;  thus  does  he  shrink 
from  the  mercy  which  pursues  him,  thus 
seems  to  plead  against  himself;  and,  though 
he  desires  and  prizes  nothing  so  much  as  his 


136  COMMCNIOX  WITH  GOU. 


Sa\-ior's  presence,  feels  conslrained,  by  a 
sense  of  his  vileness  and  pollution,  to  ask 
him,  and  almost  wish  him  to  depart,  and 
leave  him  to  the  fate  which  he  so  richly 
desenes. 

JOY  OF  COMMUSIOS  WITH  GOD. 

At  times,  God  is  pleased  to  admit  his  chil- 
dren to  nearer  approaches,  and  more  inti- 
mate degrees  of  fellowship  with  himself  and 
his  Son.  Jesus  Christ.  He  sends  down  the 
spirit  of  adoption  into  their  hearts,  whereby 
thev  are  enabled  to  cry  Abba,  Father ;  and 
to  feel  those  lively  affections  of  love,  joy, 
trust,  hope,  reverence  and  dependence, 
w^hich  it  is  at  once  their  duty  and  their  hap- 
piness to  exercise  towards  their  Father  in 
heaven.  By  the  influences  of  the  same 
spirit  he  shines  into  their  minds,  to  give  them 
the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of 
God,  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ ;  causes  his 
o-lory  to  pass  before  them,  and  makes  them, 
in  some  measure,  to  understand  the  per- 
fections of  his  nature.  He  also  reveals  to 
them  the  unutterable,  inconceivable.unheard- 


COMMUNION   WITH  GOD.  137 


of  ihings,  which  he  has  prepared  for  those 
who  love  him ;  applies  to  them  his  exceed- 
ing great  and  precious  promises ;  makes 
them  to  know  that  great  love  wherewith  he 
has  loved  them,  and  thus  causes  them  to 
rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of 
glory.  He  shines  in  upon  their  souls  with 
the  dazzling,  melting,  overpowering  beams 
of  grace  and  mercy  proceeding  from  the 
Sun  of  righteousness,  gives  them  to  know  the 
heights  and  the  depths,  the  lengths  and  the 
lireadlhs,  of  the  love  of  Christ,  which  passeth 
knowledge,"and  fills  ihem  with  all  the  fulness 
of  God.  The  Christian,  in  these  bright,  enrap- 
tftred  moments,  w  hile  thus  basking  in  beams 
of  celestial  light  and  splendor,  forgets  him- 
self, forgets  his  existence,  and  is  wholly  ab- 
sorbed in  the  ravishing,  the  ecstatic  contem  • 
plation  of  uncreated  beauty  and  lovelinc.s.o. 
He  endeavors  to  plunge  himself  into  thn 
boundless  ocean  of  divine  glory  which  opens 
to  his  view,  and  longs  to  be  wholly  swal- 
lowed up  and  lost  in  God.  His  whole  soul 
goes  forth  in  one  intense  flame  of  gratitude, 
admiration,  love  and  desire.  He  contem- 
plates, he  wonders,  ho  admires,  he  loves 


138  COMMfSIOS  WITH  GOD. 


and  adores.    His  soul  dilates  itself  bevond 
its  ordinary  capacity,  and  expands  to  re- 
ceive the  flood  of  happiness  which  over- 
whelms it.    All  its  desires  are  satisfied.  It 
no  longer  inquires,  who  will  show  us  any 
good,  but  returns  unto  its  rest,  because  the 
Lord  hath  dealt  bountifully  with  it.  The 
scanty,  noisy,  thirst-producinf  streams  of 
worldly  delight  only  increase  the  feverish 
desires  of  the  soul ;  but  the  tide  of  joy  which 
flows  in  upon  the  Christian,  is  silent,  deep, 
full  and  satisfvnng.     .\11  the  powers  and 
faculties  of  his  mind  are  lost,  absorbed,  and 
gwallowed  up  in  the  contemplation  of  infinite 
glory.   With  an  energy  and  activity  un- 
known before,  he  roams  and  ranges  through 
the  ocean  of  light  and  love,  where  he  can 
neither  find  a  bottom  nor  a  shore.    No  lan- 
guase  can  utter  his  feelings  ;  but,  with  an 
emphasis,  a  meaning,  an  expression,  which 
Go<l  alone  could  excite,  and  which  he  alone 
can  understand,  he  breathes  out  the  ardent 
emotions  of  his  soul,  in  broken  words,  while 
lie  eiclaims,  3Iy  Father,  and  my  God. 


CALL  TO  CHKISTIANS.  139 


TO  CHRISTIANS  IN  THK  COMMENCE- 
MENT OF  A  REVIVAL. 

Yes,  O  Christian,  whoever  you  are,  how- 
ever tempted  and  distressed,  however  lan- 
guishing and  despairing  you  may  be,  the 
Master  is  come,  and  callclh  for  thee.  He 
docs,  as  it  were,  call  thee  by  name,  for  he 
knows  the  names  of  his  sheep ;  they  are  en- 
graven on  the  palms  of  his  hands,  and 
he  cannot  forget  them.  His  language  is, 
Where  is  this,  and  that,  and  the  other  one, 
among  my  flock,  who  used  to  watch  for  the 
tokens  of  my  approach,  and  come  at  the 
sound  of  my  voice  1  Why  do  they  not  come 
to  welcome  my  return,  and  rejoice  in  iny 
presence?  Have  they  backsliddon  and 
wandered  from  my  fold  ?  Go,  and  toll  them 
that  their  Shepherd  is  come,  and  calleth  for 
them  Say  unto  them.  How  long  will  ye  go 
about,  O  backsliiling  people  ?  Reiurn  uiuo 
me,  and  I  will  honi  your  backslidings.  Arc 
they  tempted  and  distressed  ?  Go  and  tell 
them  that  their  High  Priest  and  Intercessor, 
one  who  h:is  been  in  all  points  templed  like 


140 


CALL  TO  CHRISTIANS. 


as  Uiey  are,  and  who  can  iherefore  be 
touched  with  the  feeling  of  ihcir  infirmities, 
is  come,  and  calltih  for  them  to  spread  their 
lemplaiions  and  afflictions  before  him.  Are 
lliey  borne  do'Mi  with  a  load  of  guilt,  and 
llie  weight  of  their  sins  against  me,  so  that 
they  are  ashamed  to  look  me  in  the  face  ? 
Tell  them  that  I  will  receive  them  graciously, 
and  love  them  freely.  Are  thej'  carried 
away  by  their  spiritual  enemies,  and  bound 
io  the  fetters  of  vice,  so  that  they  cannot 
come  to  welcome  me  ?  Tell  ihem  that  I  am 
come  to  proclaim  deliverance  to  the  captives, 
and  the  opening  of  the  prison  to  them  that 
are  bound  ;  to  rescue  the  lambs  of  my  flock 
from  the  paw  of  the  lion  and  the  jaws  of  the 
bear.  Are  they  oppressed  with  fears  that 
tbev  shall  one  day  perish  by  the  hand  of 
their  enemies  ?  Go  and  tell  them  that  my 
sheep  never  perish,  and  that  none  shall 
finally  pluck  ihem  out  of  my  hand.  Are 
they  slumbering  and  sleeping,  insensible  of 
my  approach  ?  Go  and  awaken  them  with 
the  crv,  Behold,  the  bridegroom  Cometh  ;  go 
je  out  to  meet  bim. 


It  is  profitable  for  the  children  of  God 
often  to  reflect  on  what  tliey  formerly  were, 
to  meditate  on  their  once  wretclied  and  help- 
less condition,  to  look  to  the  rock  whence 
they  were  hewn,  and  to  the  pit  whence  ihey 
were  digged.    Look  back,  then.  Christians, 
to  the  time  when  yoti,  who  are  now  the  chil- 
dren of  God,  the  members  of  Christ,  and  the 
temples  of  the  Iloly  Spirit,  were  the  ene- 
mies of  God,  the  dcspisers-  of  his  Son,  and 
the  willing  slaves  of  the  father  of  lies,  who 
wrought  in  you  as  children  of  disobedience  ; 
when  your  hearts  were  hard  as  the  nether 
millstone,  your  understandings  darkened  and 
alienated  from  the  life  of  God  ;  your  wills 
stubborn,  perverse  and   rebellious;  your 
affections  madly  bent  on  the  pleasures  of 
sin ;  and  every  imagination  of  tjie  thoughts 
of  your  hearts  was  evil ;  only  and  contin- 
ually evil.    Look  back  with  shame  and  self- 
abhorrence  to  the  time  when  you  lived  with- 
out God  in  the  world,  when  you  drank  in 
iniquity  like  water,  serving  divers  lusts  and 
vanities,  and  fulfilling  the  desires  of  the  flesh 
and  the  mind  ;  casting  God's  law  behind 
your  backs,  stifling  the  remonstrances  of 


H'i  C\I.I.  TO  CHRISTIANS. 


conscience,  quencliing  the  iiillucnces  of  the 
divine  Spirit,  neglecting  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
and  coming  to  the  house  of  God,  from  Sab- 
bath to  Sabbath,  not  to  lionor  him  in  the  as- 
sembly of  Ills  saints,  or  to  learn  your  duty, 
■ — but  to  mock  him  with  pretended  worship, 
while  your  hearts  were  far  from  him.  How 
many  calls  and  invitations  did  you  there 
slight!  How  many  sermons  did  j-ou  hear 
as  tliough  you  heard  not  !  How  many 
prayers  were  olTered  up  in  your  presence, 
while  you,  perhaps,  never  considered,  for  a 
moment,  in  what  you  were  engaged,  but 
suffered  your  thoughts  to  wander  to  the  ends 
of  the  earth  I  Even  then,  God  was  watching 
over  you  for  good ;  and  yet  how  ungrateful- 
ly did  you  requite  him  !  How  many  mercies 
did  you  receive  without  making  one  grateful 
acknowledgment !  How  did  you  strive  to 
provoke  him  to  jealousy,  and  lead  him,  if 
possible,  to  alter  his  gracious  designs  in  your 
favor !  A  rebel  against  God,  a  crucifier  of 
Christ,  a  resister  of  the  divine  Spirit,  a  slave 
of  Satan,  a  child  of  wrath,  an  heir  of  hell 
such,  O  Christian,  was  once  thy  character; 
and  nothing,  in  a  human  view,  was  then  be- 


fore  Ihee,  but  a  fearful  looking  for  of  judg- 
ment and  fiery  indignation. 


When  we  remember  an  absent  friend,  we 
usually  think  with  deep  interest  of  the  place 
where  he  is,  of  the  business  in  whK-h  he  .9 
en-a-ed,  and  of  the  time  when  we  shall 
meel^.im.     Christians,  you   know  where 
vour  Master  is.    You  know  what  he  .s  dou.g. 
You  know  that  he  now  appears  in  the  pres- 
ence of  God  for  you  ;  that  he  ever  hveth  to 
make  intercession  for  you  ;  and  that,  ere  long, 
vou  shall  see  him  and  be  with  Inm.  Thuik, 
'then,  much  and  often,  of  the  heaven  where  he 
resides,  of  the  perfect  wisdom,  fidelity,  and 
constancy,  with  which  he  there  manages 
your  concerns.    Remember  thai  he  watches 
for  you  while  you  sleep  ;  that  he  labors  for 
you  while  you  are  idle;  that  he  intercedes 
for  you,  even  while  you  are  sinning  against 
him.   Will  you,  then,  ever  sin  ?    Will  you, 
while  awake,  ever  be  idle?    Will  you  be 
unfaithful,  or  slothful  in  laboring  for  him, 
while  he  is  ever  active  and  faithful  in  pro- 
moting your  interests  t 


lU  IM.iv    WITH  CHItlST. 


C.IKISTIAXS  MEMBERS  OF  THE  BODT  OF 
CURtST. 

Since  Christ  is  the  head  of  the  body  of 
which  Chrisiiaiis  are  members,  he  has  a  rio-ht 
to  Kxpeci  tlie  same  ser\-ices  from  ihem,  whicn 
we  expect  from  our  members.  Now,  what 
we  expect  from  our  members,  is.  that  every 
otie,  iii  its  proper  place,  should  perform  the 
services  alhitted  it;  execuliii"^  ihe  purposes, 
and  obeying  the  commands  of  the  head. 
\Ve  do  not  expect  that  each  member  should 
have  a  separate  will,  or  pursue  a  separate 
interest,  or  act  in  any  respect  as  if  it  were 
independent.  If  any  part  of  our  bodies  doe? 
not  lulfil  these  expectations,  and  jield 
prompt  and  implicit  obedience  to  our  will, 
we  conclude  it  to  be  diseased ;  and  if  the 
acts  of  the  will  produce  no  effect  upon  it, 
we  conclude  it  to  be  dead,  and  remove  it,  if 
possible,  as  a  useless  encumbrance.  We 
further  expect  that  our  members,  instead  of 
altemptino;-  to  provide,  each  one,  for  its  own 
wants,  will  depend  upon  the  wisdom  and 
foresight  of  ilie  bead,  for  all  necessary  sup- 


UNION   "  ITH  CHRIST.  145 

plies.  In  a  word,  we  Know  that  it  is  the 
part  of  the  head  to  plan,  direct,  and  provide, 
and  the  part  of  the  members  to  oliey  and 
execute.  Precisely  similar  are  the  duties  of 
Christians,  considered  as  the  menihcrs  of 
Christ.  No  Christian  must  have  a  separate 
will,  or  a  separate  interest  of  his  own,  or  act. 
in  any  respect,  as  if  he  were  an  insulated, 
independent  individual.  As  there  is  but  one 
head,  so  there  must  he  but  one  governing, 
guiding  will,  and  that  must  be  the  will 
of  Christ.  If  any  neglect  to  execute  his 
will,  they  arc  spiritually  diseased  ;  and  if 
this  neglect  be  habitual,  they  are  spiritually 
dead,  and  were  never  really  united  to  Christ, 
for  his  real  members  never  die.  It  is  also 
their  duty  to  depend  on  him  for  every  thing, 
for  the  supply  of  all  their  temporal  and 
spiritual  necessities ;  and  never  to  attempt 
any  thing  but  in  reliance  on  his  wisdom, 
grace  and  strength.  As  well  may  our  feet 
walk  safely,  or  our  hands  work  skilfully, 
without  assistance  and  guidance  from  the 
head,  as  Christians  can  perform  any  service 
witliout  the  grace  of  Christ  their  head,  in 
10 


1  Hi  THK   CHRlSTI.iX'S  CO  N  si )  I.  A  T  i  CI  S  . 


whom  are  laid  up  all  llie  treasures  of  wis- 
dom, and  knonleUge,  and  grace. 

THE  CHRISTIAS'S  CONSOLATION. 

Christians,  a  man  now  filli  the  throne  of 
h(?aven.  And  who  is  this  man  ?  Believer, 
inar'.i  it  welK  It  is  a  man  who  is  not  ashamed 
to  call  3  0U  brother.  It  is  a  man  who  can  be 
touched  u-ilh  the  feeling  of  vour  infirmities, 
for  he  has  been  in  all  points  tempted  like  as 
you  are,  yet  without  sin.  Whatever  your 
sorrows  or  trials  may  be,  lie  knows  by  expe- 
rience how  to  sympathize  with  you.  Has 
your  Heavenly  Father  forsaken  you,  so  that 
you  walk  in  darkness  and  see  no  tight  ?  He 
well  remembers  what  l)e  felt,  when  he  cried, 
BIy  God.  my  God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken 
me  1  Has  Satan  wounded  you  with  his 
fiery  darts  ?  He  remembers  liow  sorely  his 
own  heart  was  bruised  when  he  wrestled 
with  principalities  and  powers,  and  crushed 
the  head  of  the  prince  of  darkness.  Are  you 
essauhcd  with  various  and  distressing  temp- 
liYlioas  ?     Christ  was   tempted    to  doubt 


THE  chkistian's  roN'^or.ATioN.  M7 


whether  he  were  the  Son  of  God,  to  presume 
upon  his  Father's  love,  and  to  worship  the 
father  of  hes.    Are  you  pressed  down  with 
a  complication  of  sorrows,  so  as  to  despair 
even  of  life  ?    The  soul  of  Christ  was  once 
exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto  death.  Are 
you  mourning  for  the  danger  of  unbelieving 
friends  ?    Christ's  own  brethren  did  not  be- 
lieve in  him.    Does  the  world  persecute  and 
despise  you,  or  are  your  enemies  those  of  your 
own  household  ?    Christ  was  despised  and 
rejected  of  men,  and  his  own  relations  stig- 
matized him  as  a  madman.    Are  you  suffer- 
ing under  slanilcrous  and  unjust  accusations  ? 
Christ  was  called  a  man  gluttonous,,  and  a 
wine-bibber,  a   friend  of   publicans  and 
sinners.    Are  you  struggling  with  the  evils 
of  poverty  ?    Jesus  had  not  where  to  lay 
his  head.    Do  Christian  friends  forsake,  or 
treat  you  unkindly  ?  Christ  was  denied  and 
forsaken  by  his  own  disciples.    Are  you 
distressed  with  fears  of  death?    Christ  has 
entered  the  dark  valley  thai  he  might  destroy 
death.  O,  then,  banish  all  your  fears.  Look 
at  your  merciful  High  Priest  who  is  passed 
unto  the  heavens,  and  triumphantly  exclaim 


M8  THE  christian's  consolation. 


with  the  apostle,  Who  shall  separate  us  from 
the  love  of  Christ  3 


The  professed  disciple  of  Christ,  who  de- 
sponds and  trembles,  when  he  hears  his 
Master  calling  him  to  go  on  to  perfection, 
may  derive  courage  and  support  from  look- 
in-  at  the  promises  of  Christ,  and  at  their 
Author.     Among  the  blessings  promised, 
you  will  find  every  thing  which  any  man 
ran  need,  to  assist  him  in  arriving  at  perfec- 
tion.    There   are  promises  of  light  and 
direction  to  find  tlie  path  which  leads  to  it; 
promises  of  assistance  to  walk  in  that  path ; 
promises  of  strength  to  resist  and  overcome 
all  opposition  ;  promises  of  remedies  to  heal 
us  when  wounded,  of  cor.lials  to  invigorate 
us  when  faint,  and  of  most  glorious  rewards 
to  crown  the  end  of  our  course.    You  will 
hear  Jehovah  saying,  Fear  not,  for  I  am 
with  thee ;  be  not  dismayed,  for  I  am  thy 
God :  I  will  strengthen  thee ;  yea,  I  will 
help  thee;  yea,  1  will  uphold  thee  with  the 
hand  of  my  righteousness.  Though 
thou  art  in  thyself  but  a  worm,  thou  shall 


THK  CHIilSTIAN's  CONSHLATION.  149 


Ihrcsli  the  mountains,  and  beat  lliem  small 
as  the  dust.  Look  next  at  Him  who  gives 
these  promises.  It  is  one  who  is  almighty, 
and  who  therefore  can  fulfil  them.  It  is  one 
who  cannot  lie,  and  therefore  lotV/  fulfil  them. 
It  is  one  who  possesses  all  power  in  heaven 
and  on  earth  ;  one  whose  treasures  of  grace 
are  unsearchable  and  inexhaustible  ;  one  in 
whom  dwells  all  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead 
bodily.  With  all  this  fulness,  faith  indisso- 
lubly  unites  us.  Say,  then,  ye  who  despond 
and  tremble,  when  you  contemplate  the 
almost  immeasurable  distance  between 
your  own  moral  characters  and  that  of 
Christ,  what,  except  faith  in  these  promises 
and  in  their  Author,  is  necessary,  to  support, 
encourage,  and  animate  you  in  going  on  to 
perfection?  If  Christ  himself  is  perfect;  if 
faith  makes  you  members  of  this  perfect 
head  ;  if  it  causes  his  fulness  to  flow  into  your 
souls, — then  it  is  most  evident  that  he  can 
and  will  enable  all,  who  exercise  faith  in  him, 
to  imitate  his  example,  and  finally  to  become 
perfect  as  he  is  perfect. 


150  THE  c  Hitisi  I  4n's  consolation. 


Lei  not  llie  Christian  listen  to  the  sugnpes- 
lions  of  indolence,  despondency  and  unbe- 
lief ;  but  let  him  listen  rather  to  the  calls  and 
promises  of  Christ.  See  what  he  has  already 
done  for  those  of  our  race  who  relied  on  his 
grace.  Look  al  Enoch,  who  walked  with 
God;  al  Abraham,  the  friend  of  God;  at 
Moses,  the  coufideutial  serx-anl  of  God ;  al 
Daniel,  the  man  greatly  beloved  of  God;  at 
Stephen,  full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost ; 
at  St.  Paul,  glowinj^  wilh  an  ardor  like  that 
of  '•  the  rapt  seraph,  who  adores  and  bums ;" 
and  al  the  many  other  worthies  with  whom 
the  historian  and  biographer  have  made  as 
acquainted.  See  lo  what  heights  they 
soared,  how  nearly  they  approached  lo  per- 
fection. And  who  enabled  them  lo  make 
these  approaches,  to  soar  to  these  heights? 
He,  I  answer,  who  now  calls  upon  you  to 
follow  them  ;  He  who  now  offers  you  the 
same  assistance  which  he  afforded  them. 
Relv,  then,  with  full  confidence,  on  his  per- 
fections and  promises,  and  recommence  with 
new  vigor  j'our  Christian  warfare.  Do  you 
still  hesitate  and  linger  ?  O  thou  of  little 
faith,  wherefore  dosl  ihou  doubt  ?  Why  cast 


THK  CHRISIIAN'S  CONSOLATION,  lol 


round  a  trembling,  desponiling  glance  uyoa 
ihe  roaring  wind  and  stonny  waves  winch 
oppose  thy  progress  1  Look  ratlior  al  h;iB 
'  who  calls  Ihee  onward  ;  at  tlie  omnipotent 
arm,  which  is  to  be  thy  strength  and  support 
Look  till  you  feel  faitli,  and  hepe,  and 
courage,  reviving  iu  your  Wcast.  Then  say 
to  your  Lord,  I  come  I  will  follow  where  thoB 
leadest  the  way.  I  wHl  once  more  aim,  willa 
renovated  strength,  al  the  perfection  which  i 
have  long  deemed  unattaiuable. 


Tills  world  is  the  place  for  lalwr,  and  not 
for  rest,  or  enjoyment,  except  that  ciijoymeirt 
which  may  be  found  "m  serving  God.  We 
shall  have  lime  enough  in  the  coming  world 
to  rest,  and  to  converse  wil^i  our  friends; 
and  it  may  well  reconcile  us  to  separation 
■here,  if  we  hope  to  be  forever  with  them 
there. 


The  young  Christian  thinks  it  would  be 
test  that  he  should  be  always  lively,  zealous, 
Slid  cugaged  in  religion  ;  that  (le  sliould  fed 


loi  THK  christian's  CONSOLATION. 


lailh,  love  aud  liuaiilily  in  coiislant  exercise, 
aiid  be  like  a  flame  of  fire  in  liis  Master's 
service.  Bui  our  blessed  Teacher  thinks 
otherwise.  He  knows  that  the  most  effect- 
ual, and,  indeed,  the  only  way,  to  mortify  sin 
in  our  hearts,  is  to  make  us  hate  it ;  and  the 
way  to  make  us  hate  it  is  to  suffer  us  to  feel 
it.  He  knows  that  the  only  way  to  make  us 
fervent  and  diligent  in  prayer,  is  to  show  us 
how  many  things  we  have  to  pray  for,  and 
convince  us  of  our  absolute  need  of  his  as- 
sistance. He  knows  that  the  best  way  to 
make  us  humble  and  contented  is  to  show  us 
what  we  are,  and  what  we  deserve ;  and 
that  the  onlv  way  to  wean  us  from  the  world, 
is,  to  render  it  a  place  of  fatigue  and  unea- 
siness. He  knows  that  there  is  nothing  like 
the  want  of  his  presence  to  teach  us  the 
worth  of  it ;  and  nothing  like  a  sense  of  the 
dangerous  nature  of  our  disease,  to  show  us 
the  value  of  an  alm!ghty  Physician.  Upon 
this  plan,  therefore,  it  is,  that  all  his  various 
dispensations  towards  Christians  are  con- 
ducted ;  and  till  they  are  acquainted  with  this, 
llicy  cannot  understand  them. 


CHRIST  UNCHANGEABLE. 


153 


CHRIST  UNCHANCEABI-E. 

As,  amid  all  the  vicissitudes  of  the  seasons, 
the  succession  of  day  and  night,  and  the 
changes  of  the  weather,  the  sun  remains  and 
shines  in  the  same  part  of  the  heavens  ;  so, 
amid  all  the  daily  changes  wliich  the  Chris- 
tian experiences,  from  darkness  to  light,  and 
from  summer  to  winter,  in  calms  and  tem- 
pests, Ihe  Sun  of  righteousness  still  continues 
the  same  ;  and  'tis  the  same  love  and  wisdom 
which  leads  him  to  hide  or  to  unveil  his  face. 
But  the  Christian  is  at  first  ready  to  imagine 
that  the  changes  in  his  feelings  proceed  from 
changes  in  Christ ;  as  those  who  do  not  con- 
sider the  motion  of  the  earth,  fancy  that  the 
sun  really  rises  and  sets. 


Above  all,  T  would  say  to  the  Christian, 
Never  distrust  the  kindness,  the  love,  the 
wisdom  and  faithfulness  of  your  Savior; 
but  confide  in  him  who  has  promised  that  all 
things  shall  work  together  for  your  good. 
Though  you  may  not  now  know  what  he  is 


CHRIST  A  HKLPKR. 


doing,  you  shall  know  hereafter.  You  will 
see  the  reason  of  all  the  trials  and  tempta^ 
tions,  the  dark  and  comfortless  hours,  the 
distressing  doubts  and  fears,  the  long  and 
tedious  conflicts,  with  which  you  are  now 
exercised  ;  and  you  will  be  convinced  that 
not  a  sigli,  not  a  tear,  not  a  single  uneasy 
Uiought  was  allotted  you,  without  some  wise 
and  gracious  design.  Say  not,  then,  like 
Jacob  of  old,  All  these  things  are  against 
me  ;  say  not,  like  David,  I  shall  one  day 
perish  by  the  hand  of  Saul  ;  for  all  these 
things  are  for  your  good,  and  you  shall  never 
perish,  neither  shall  any  pluck  you  out  of 
Christ's  hand.  Why  should  you,  who  are 
sons  of  the  King  of  heaven,  be  lean  and  dis- 
contented from  day  to  day  ?  Remember 
(hat,  if  you  are  in  the  path  of  the  just,  you 
are  the  heir  of  God  and  joint  heir  with  Christ 
of  an  inheritance  incorruptible,  eternal,  and 
that  fadeth  not  away.  Be  not  discouraged 
at  the  small  progress  you  appear  to  make, 
or  the  difficulties  you  may  meet  with.  Why 
should  the  infant  be  discouraged  because  he 
has  not  the  strength  of  manhood,  or  the 
wisdom  of  old  age  ?    Wait  on  the  Lord  in 


CHRIST  A  HELPER. 


155 


the  diligent  use  of  liis  appointed  means,  and 
he  will  strengthen  your  hearts,  so  that  you 
shall  mount  up  as  on  eagle's  wings;  you 
shall  run,  and  not  be  weary ;  you  shall  walk, 
and  not  faint. 


Who  is  he  that  walkelh  in  darkness  and 
hath  no  light  ?  Let  him  trust  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord,  and  stay  liimself  upon  his  God. 
Let  him  go  to  Jesns,  the  compassionate 
Savior  of  sinners,  who  heals  the  broken  in 
heart,  who  gathers  the  lambs  in  his  arms,  and 
carries  them  in  his  bosom.  Go,  I  say,  to 
him  ;  lell  him  all  your  griefs  and  sorrows  ;  tell 
him  that  your  souls  cleave  to  the  dust;  that 
iniquities,  doubts  and  fears  prevail  against 
you;  that  you  are  poor,  and  miserable,  and 
wretched,  and  blind  and  naked.  Go  to  his 
mercy-seat,  where  he  sits  as  a  merciful  High 
Priest,  on  purpose  to  give  repentance  and 
remission  of  sins ;  go  and  embrace  his  feet, 
lay  open  your  whole  hearts,  slate  all  your 
difficullies,  complaints  and  diseases,  and  you 
will  find  him  infinitely  more  gracious  than 
you  can  conceive ;  infinitely  more  willing  to 


156  MY  BELOVED  IS  MIXE. 


grant  your  requests  than  you  are  to  make 
them.  He  is  love  itself;  'tis  his  very  nature 
10  pitv.  Have  you  a  hard  heart  ? — carry  it 
to  him,  and  he  will  soften  it.  Have  you  a 
blind  mind  ? — he  will  enlighten  it.  Are  you 
oppressed  with  a  load  of  guilt  ? — he  will  lake 
it  off.  Are  you  defiled  and  polluted  ? — he 
will  wash  you  in  his  own  blood.  Have  you 
backslidden  ? — turn  unto  me,  says  he,  ye 
backsliding  children,  and  I  wiir  heal  your 
backslidiiig-s.  Come,  then,  to  Christ,  and 
obtain  those  influences  of  his  spirit  by  which 
you  shall  be  enabled  to  grow  in  grace  and 
in  the  knowledge  of  your  Lord  and  Savior 
Jesus  Christ.  So  shall  your  path  be  as  the 
shining  light,  that  shinelh  more  and  more 
unto  the  perfect  day. 

MY  BELOVED  IS  MIKE. 

How  great  are  the  privileges  which  result 
from  an  ability  to  say,  Christ  is  mine !  If 
Christ  is  yours,  then  all  that  he  possesses  is 
yours.  His  power  is  yours,  to  defend  you ; 
his  wisdom  and  knowledge  are  yours,  to 
piide  you ;  his  righteousness  is  yours,  to  jus- 


THE  BIBLE  PRACTICAL. 


137 


tify  .vou  ;  liis  spirit  and  grace  are  yours,  to 
sanctify  you  ;  his  heaven  is  yours,  to  receive 
you.  He  is  as  much  yours  as  you  are  his, 
and  as  he  requires  all  that  you  have  to  be 
given  to  him,  so  he  gives  all  that  he  has  to 
you.  Come  to  him,  lliew,  with  holy  boldness, 
and  take  what  is  your  own.  Remember  you 
have  already  received  what  is  most  difficult 
for  him  to  give— his  body,  his  blood,  his  life. 
And  surely  he  who  has  given  these,  will  not 
refuse  you  smaller  blessings.  You  will 
never  live  happily  or  usefully,  you  will  never 
highly  enjoy  or  greatly  adorn  religion,  until 
you  can  feel  that  Christ,  and  all  that  he  pos- 
sesses, are  yours,  and  learn  to  come  and 
take  litem  as  your  own. 

THE  BIBLE  ENTIRELY  PRACTICAL. 

We  may  challenge  any  man  to  point  out 
a  single  passage  in  the  Bible,  w  hich  does 
not  either  teach  some  duty,  or  inculcate  Us 
performance,  or  show  the  grounds  on  which 
it  rests,  or  exhibit  reasons  why  we  should 
perform  it.  For  instance  ;  all  the  preceptive 
parts  of  Scripture  prescribe  ot;r  duty  ;  all 


158  STUDYING  THE  BIBLE. 


the  invitations  invite  us  to  perform  il  ;  all 
the  promises  and  tlireatenings  are  motives 
to  its  performance  ;  all  the  cautions  and  ad- 
monitions warn  us  not  to  neg-lect  it ;  the  his- 
torical parts  inform  us  what  have  been  the 
consequences  of  neglecting  and  of  perform- 
ing it;  the  prophetical  parts  show  us  what 
tJ)ese  consequences  will  be  hereafter  ;  and 
the  doctrinal  parts  show  us  on  what  grounds 
the  whole  superstructure  of  duty,  or  of  prac- 
tical religion,  rests. 


In  the  judgment  of  God  there  is  no  more 
heinous  sin  than  that  of  hearing,  with  un- 
concern, his  messages  of  love  and  mercy. 
Doth  not  my  word  do  good  to  him  that 
walketh  uprightly?  It  always  does.  Yet 
Christians  often  go  away  from  hearing  the 
word  unaffected. 

DUTY  OF  STUDYING  THE  BIBLE. 

The  Scriptures  are  given  to  us  as  a  rich 
mine,  in  which  we  may  labor,  and  appro- 
priate to  ourselves  all  the  treasures  we  find; 


and  the  more  diligoiitly  we  labor,  iind  the 
more  wealth  wc  obtain,  so  much  the  more  is 
Ihe  Giver  pleased.  As  we  cannot  be  loo 
careful  not  to  pry  into  things  secret,  so  we 
cannot  be  too  diligent  in  searching  into  every 
thing  which  God  has  revealed.  And  if 
we  search  in  the  manner  which  he  has  pre- 
scribe .1,  we  shall  make  all  the  good  things 
contained  in  Ihe  Scriptures  our  own  in  a  stilJ 
higher  sense.  We  shall  make  that  God, 
that  Savior,  that  holiness,  that  heaven, 
which  the  T.ible  reveals,  our  own  forever, 
our  own  to  possess  and  to  enjoy.  In  short, 
every  truth  which  it  reveals  is  ours  to  en- 
lighten us ;  every  precept  is  ours  to  direct 
us ;  every  admonition  is  curs  to  warn  us  ; 
every  promise  is  ours  to  encourage  and 
animate  us.  For  these  purposes  God  has 
given,  and  for  these  purposes  we  are  to 
receive  them. 


PRAYER. 

We  may  yuUrc  of  the  slate  of  our  hearts 
by  the  earnestness  of  our  prayers.  You 
rannol  make  a  rich  man  beg  like  a  poor 


160 


PRAYER. 


man ;  you  cannot  make  a  man  that  is  full 
cry  for  food  like  one  that  is  hungry  ;  no 
more  will  a  man  who  has  a  good  opinion  of 
himself,  cry  for  mercy  like  one  who  feels 
that  he  is  poor  and  needy. 

The  symptoms  of  spiritual  decline  are  like 
those  which  attend  the  decay  of  bodily 
health.  It  generally  commences  with  loss 
of  appetite,  and  a  disrelish  for  spiritual  food, 
prayer,  reading  the  Scriptures,  and  devotional 
books.  Whenever  you  perceive  these  symp- 
toms, be  alarmed,  for  your  spiritual  health 
is  in  danger ;  apply  immediately  to  the  great 
Physician  for  a  cure. 

The  best  means  of  keeping  near  to  God 
is  Ihe  closet.  Here  the  battle  is  w  on  or 
lost. 


If  a  man  begins  to  be  impatient  because 
his  prayers  for  any  blessing  are  not  answered, 
it  is  a  certain  proof,  that  a  self-righteous 


PRAYER. 


161 


dependence  on  his  own  merils  prevails  in  his 
heart  to  a  great  extent ;  for  the  language  of 
impatience  is,  I  deserve  the  blessing  ;  I  had 
a  right  to  expect  that  it  would  be  bestowed 
and  it  ought  to  have  been  bestowed  ere 
this.  It  is  evident  that  a  man  who  feeis 
that  he  deserves  nothing,  will  never  be  im- 
patient because  he  receives  nothing;  but 
will  say,  I  have  nothing  to  complain  of,  1 
receive  as  much  as  I  deserve.  Again,  when 
a  man  wonders,  or  thinks  it  strange,  that  he 
does  not  receive  a  blessing  for  which  he  has 
prayed,  it  shows  that  he  relies  on  his  own 
merits.  The  language  of  such  feelings  is,  It 
is  very  strange  that  I,  who  have  prayed  so 
well,  and  so  long,  and  had  so  much  reason 
to  expect  a  blessing,  do  not  receive  it. 
Persons  who  feel  truly  humble,  on  the  con- 
trary, are  surprised,  not  when  blessings  are 
withheld,  but  when  they  are  bestowed.  Ii 
appears  very  strange  and  wonderful  to  them 
that  God  should  bestow  any  favors  on  crea- 
tures so  unworthy  as  themselves,  or  pay 
any  regard  to  prayers  so  polluted  as  their 
own.  This  is  the  temper  to  which  every 
11 


f.erson  must  be  brouglil  before  God  wiL^ 
answer  liis  prayers. 


No  0:10  Beecl3  to  be  told,  tliat  the  sureot 
Kielhod  10  obtain  new  favors  from  an  earthly 
benefaclor,  is  to  be  tbankiul  for  tliose  which 
he  has  already  bestowed.    It  is  tlie  sanve 
with  respect  te  oar  heavenly  Bencfactos. 
Praise  and  thanksgiving  are  even  more 
prevalent  than  sacrifices  of  prayers.    I  have 
somewhere  met  with  an  aceounl  of  a  Chris- 
tian, who  was  shipwrecked  tfpon  a  desolate 
Lsland,  while  all  bis-  companions  perished  in 
liie  waves.    In  this  situation,  he  spent  man.v 
days  in  fasting  and  prayer,  that  God  would 
epen  a  way  for  his  deliverance;  but  his 
prayers  received  no  answer.    At  length, 
musing  on.  the  goodness  of  GotV,  in  preserv- 
ing him  from  tte  dangers  of  the  sea,  he  re- 
solved to  spend  a  da-y  in  thanksgiving  and 
praise,  for  this  and  other  favors.   Before  the- 
conclusion  of  the  day,  a  vessel  arrived,  anc'. 
restored  him  in  safety  to  his  connlry  anc/. 
fciecds.    Another  instance,  squally  ia  poiiJJ, 


THE  LOKU'S  SUrPKR. 


103 


we  find  in  the  history  of  Solomon.  At  tne 
"  dedication  of  the  temple,  many  prayers 
were  made,  and  many  sacrifices  olTcred, 
without  any  token  of  the  divine  acceptance. 
But  when  singers  and  players  on  instruments 
began  as  one  to  make  one  sound  to  be  heard, 
in  praising  and  thanking  the  Lortl.  saying. 
For  lie  is  good,  for  his  mercy  cndureth 
forever;  then  the  glory  of  the  Lord  de- 
scended and  filled  the  temple.  The  rea- 
son why  praise  and  thanksgiving  are  thus 
prevalent  with  God,  is,  that  Ihey,  above  all 
other  duties,  glorify  Him.  Whoso  offereth 
praise,  says  he,  glorifieth  me  ;  and  those  who 
thus  honor  him,  he  will  honor. 

THE  lord's  supper 

At  the  communion  table  we  are  in  fact 
assembled  to  attend  our  Savior's  funeral, 
to  look  at  his  dead  body,  as  we  look  at  the 
countenance  of  a  deceased  friend  before  the 
coffin  is  closed.  And  if  every  wrong,  every 
worldly  feeling  should  die  away,  while  we 
are  contemplating  the  corpse  of  a  friend, 
how  much  more  ought  this  to  be  the  case, 
when  this  friend'is  Christ !  1  think  il  may  be 


134.  THE  LOKO  S  SUPPKR. 


profitable  somcUines  to  shut  ourselves  up,  in 
imaginalioa,  in  our  Savior's  lomb,  and  feel 
as  if  he  were  there  bureJ  with  us. 


At  the  la!)le  of  our  Lord,  each  of  us  should 
rocoUect  the  personal  fivors  and  marks  of 
kindness,  which  he  has  himself  received  from 
Christ,  or  through  his  mediation.    Cur  tem- 
poral m.-rc:es,  our  spiritual  privileges  should 
all  pass  in  review.    We  shouM  look  back 
to  the  never  to  be  forgotten  time  of  love, 
when  hL-  fomi.l  us  poor,  miserable,  wretched, 
blind  and  naked ;  dead  in  tresi)asses  and 
sins,  hav.ng  no  hope,  and  without  God  in 
the  world     We  should  remember  how  he 
pitied  us  awakened  us, convinced  us  of  sin. 
and  drew  us  to  himself  by  the  cords  of  love. 
We  should  remember  how  often  he  has  since 
healed  our  backslidings.  pardoned  our  sins, 
borne  with  our  unbelief,  ingratitude,  and 
slowness  to  learn;  supplied  our^ants. 
listene.l  to  our  complaints,  alleviated  our 
sorrows,  and  revived  our  drooping  spirits 
when  we  were  ready  to  faint.    In  short,  we 
must  remember  all  the  way  by  whichhchus 


THK  lord's  SUPPKR. 


165 


led  us,  these  many  years,  throug;li  a  wilder- 
ness of  sins,  sorrows,  trials  and  temptations. 
Tims  wc  shall  be  convinced  that  no  sickly 
infant  ever  cost  its  mother  a  lliousandtli 
part  of  the  care,  and  labor,  and  suffering, 
which  we  have  cost  our  Savior;  and  that  no 
mother  has  ever  shown  her  infant  a  thou- 
sandth part  of  the  walchfid  tenderness, 
which  our  Savior  has  shown  to  us. 


Was  Christ  a  man  of  sorrows,  and  ac- 
quainted with  grief  ?  Then,  Christians,  we 
need  not  be  surprised  or  ofl'ended,  if  we  are 
often  called  to  drink  of  the  cup  of  sorrows; 
if  we  find  this  world  a  vale  of  tears.  This 
is  one  of  tlic  ways  in  which  we  must  be  con- 
formed to  our  glorious  Head.  Indeed,  his 
example  has  sanctified  grief,  and  almost 
rendered  it  pleasant  to  mourn.  One  would 
think  that  Christians  could  scarcely  wish  to 
go  rejoicing  through  a  world,  which  their 
Master  passed  through  mourning.  The 
paths  in  which  we  follow  him  arc  bedewed 
with  his  tears,  and  stained  witii  his  blood. 
It  is  true,  that  from  the  ground  thus  watered 


166  KKl.ATl^F.  nUTlJvS.  

^^TSized  many  rich  flowers  -and  fruits 
of  paradise  vpring  up  to  refresh  us,  m«J..ch 
we  mav,  a..,;  ought  .0  rejoice.  But  suU  our 
iov  shor.1-.'  e  softened  and  sancufied  by 
Udly  so-..  .  When  we  are  partakm?  ol 
The  feast  wh.ch  his  love  has  spread  for  us, 

we  should  never  forget  how  dearly  .1  was 

purchased. 

There's  not  a  ?ilt  hU  hand  bestows 
Bui  cost  bis  hearl  a  groan." 

The  jov.  the  honor,  the  glory,  through  eter- 
nilv,  shall  be  ours;  but  the  sorrows,  the 
sulTerings,  the  agonies  which  purchased  it, 
were  all  his  own. 

REL.^T1VE  DUTIES  OF  CHRISTIANS. 

<?ince  all  Christians  are  members  of  tha 
same  bo.ly,  they  ought  not  to  envy  each 
other.  What  could  be  more  absurd  than 
for  the  eye  to  envy  the  de.xterily  of  the 
>,and,  or  the  feci  to  envy  the  per-p.cu.ly  of 
the  eve  which  directed  their  motions,  and 
prevente.l  them  from  running  into  danger  . 
Still  more  absurd  is  it.  if  possible,  for  one 


Christian  to  envy  (he  gills,  or  graces  or 
usefulness  of  another,  since  the  whole  bo.ly, 
and  he  amongst  the  rest,  enjoys  the  bencnt 
of  them.    The  fact  is,  wkenever  God  be- 
stows a  favor  on  any  Christian,  he  does,  m 
effect,  confer  a  favor  on  all ;  j«st  as  «hen  a 
man  heals,  or  c'K,lhes  one  part  of  the  body, 
'.^  confers  a  be:tefit  on  the  whole.  Ke- 
joice  and  bless  Cod,  then.  Christians,  «he« 
he  honors  or  favors  any  fellow  Christian, 
for  it  is  an  act  of  kindness  done  to  you,  am. 
^.-,11  promote  your  present  and  eternal  fe- 
licity. 

No  Cnrlstian  should  be  dissatisfied  wilb 
his  lot  if  poor  and  despised,  or  indulge  pride 
,if  honored  and  prospor<=d.  Every  one  .s  m 
,hat  place  which  infinite  wisdom  sees  be« 
for  him,  and  the  most  hig^ily  favored  Chris- 
tians are,  in  many  respects,  depcn.lent  o« 
,hc  lowest.  The  ej-e  cannot  say  to  the 
hand,  1  have  no  need  of  thee,  nor  the  hand 
to  the  feet,  1  have  no  need  of  you.  If  the 
^hole  body  were  an  eye,  where  were  the 
hearia"  ?  and  f  ^^e  wbole  body  we^e  bear- 


168 


RK.l.ATIVF.  DUTIKS. 


mg.  where  were  ih.c  smc'linj;?  But  now 
God  hath  set  the  mL'm'jiTS  iii  the  body, 
every  one  as  it  hath  pleased  liim,  and  it  is 
the  same  in  the  great  body  of  Christ. 


It  h  ii>cniTil)eiit  on  every  Christian  to 
sscertain  for  wh:it  he  is  tmalificd,  and  what 
service  he  is  called  to  perform,  for  the  body 
of  which  he  is  a  member.  You  can  easily 
conceive  what  vvonid  be  llie  conseqnence,  in 
the  human  body,  should  the  feet  attempt  to 
perform  the  work  of  the  hands,  or  the  hands, 
the  olTrce  of  the  eye.  Almost  equally  per- 
nicious and  ri<!iculoiis  are  the  consetiucnccs 
occasioned  by  the  self-ignorance,  vanity,  or 
false  modesty  of  many  Christians.  Tlicy 
cither  do  not  know  their  place,  or  if  they  do, 
will  not  perform  the  duties  of  it.  Hence 
some  mil  attempt  to  perform  the  duly  of 
social  prayer,  or  of  exhortation,  or  of  ex- 
poundin:^  the  Scriptures,  whom  God  never 
designed,  and  therefore  never  qualified  for 
(hat  work,  and  who,  of  course,  cannot  per- 
form it  in  an  edifving,  acceptable  manner; 
■*bile  others,  v/hor?.  he  has  thus  qualified. 


I.OVE  ONK  ANOTHER.  KjJ 

for  some  cause  or  oilier,  decline  altempt- 
iii"'  it.  Hence  it  is  too  often  the  case,  that 
a  cluirch  of  Christ,  instead  of  assembling  a 
well-orjanized  body  in  which  the  several 
memlirrs  know  and  keep  their  place,  and 
perform  its  duties,  resembles  a  disorderly 
family,  in  which  no  one  knows  his  employ- 
ment, and,  of  course,  there  is  nothing  but 
confusion  and  complaint. 


LOVE  ONE  ANOTHER. 

There  are  some  Christians  whom  it  is  not 
very  easy  to  love,  on  account  of  some  disa- 
grceal>le  peculiarities  about  them ;  but  we 
shall  love  them  hereafter,  as  we  love  our 
own  souls,  and  they  will  love  us,  in  a  similar 
manner.  Besides,  our  Savior  loves  them, 
notwithstanding  all  these  imperfections;  and 
ought  not  our  affections  to  follow  his  ?  If 
he°were  now  \'is!bly  on  earth,  and  we  were 
permitted  to  stand  by  his  side,  if  wc  saw 
him  bend  a  look  of  love  on  any  individual, 
would  not  our  affections  immediately  flow 
out  towards  that  person,  however  disagreea- 
ble or  imperfect  he  might  be  ?    Such  a  look 


170 


BKNKVOI.KNCK. 


oiir  Savior  docs  bend  on  the  most  unlovely 
of  his  disciples.  Lei  us,  then,  love  ihcm  all, 
for  his  sake. 

CKtVKRSAL  LAW  OF  T ENEVOIF.KCE. 

"Not  for  ourselves,  but  others" — is  the 
^rand  law  of  nature,  inscribed  by  tlie  hand 
of  God  on  every  part  of  creation.  Not  for 
itself,  but  others,  does  the  sun  dispense  its 
beams ;  not  for  themselves,  but  others,  do 
the  clouds  distil  their  showers ;  not  for  her- 
fclf,  but  others,  does  the  earth  unlock  her 
treasures  ;  not  for  themselves,  but  others,  do 
the  trees  produce  their  fruits,  or  the  flowers 
diffuse  their  fragrance  and  display  their 
various  hues.  So,  not  for  himself,  but  others, 
are  the  blessings  of  Heaven  bestowed  on 
man  ;  and  whenever,  instead  of  diffusing 
iheni  around,  he  devotes  (hem  exclusively  to 
tiis  own  gralificalion.  and  shuts  himself  up  in 
the  dark  and  fl  niy  caverns  of  selfishness,  he 
transi^csses  the  great  law  of  creation — he 
cuts  himself  off  from  the  created  uni%'erse, 
and  its  .Author — he  sacrilegiously  converts 
Vo  his  own  use  the  favors  which  were  givep 


BENEVOI.KNCE. 


him  for  the  relief  of  others,  and  must  be  con- 
sidered, not  only  as  an  unprofitable,  but  as  a 
franduleiU  servant,  who  lias  worse  than 
wasted  his  Lord's  money.    He,  who  thus 
lives  only  to  himself,  and  consumes  the 
bounty  of  Heaven  upon  his  lusts,  or  conse- 
crates it  to  the  demon  of  avarice,  is  a  barren 
rock  in  a  fertile  plain  ;  lie  is  a  thorny  bramble 
in  a  fruitful  vineyard  ;  he  is  the  grave  of 
God's  blessings;  he  is  the  very  Arabia  De- 
sertaof  tlie  moral  world.    And  if  he  is  high- 
ly exalted  in  wealth  or  power,  he  stands, 
inaccessible  and  strong,  like  an  insulated 
towering  clifT,  which  exhibits  only  acoM  and 
cheerless  prospect,  intercepts    the  genial 
beams  of  the  sun,  chills  the  vales  below  with 
its  gloomy  shade,  adds  fresh  keenness  to  the 
freezing  blast,  and  tempts  down  the  liglu- 
ninas  of  angry  heaven.    How  different  this 
from  the  gently-rising  hill,  clothed  to  its 
summit  with    fruits    and    flowers,  which 
attracts  and  receives  the  dews  of  heaven, 
and  retaining  only  sufTicient  to  supply  its 
numerous  offspring,  sends  the  remainder  in 
a  thousand  streams  to  bless  the  vales  which 
lie  at  its  feel ! 


172        DUTIES  TO  THE  HEATHEN. 


DUTIES  TO  THE  HEATHEN. 

It  is  a  fart  tliat  vigorous  and  persevering^ 
exertions  in  favor  of  religion  abroad,  natu- 
rally excite,  and  are  inseparably  connected 
nitli  similar  and  successful  exertions  at 
home.  Witness  the  example  of  Great  Brit- 
ain. While  she  was  reaching  the  full  cup 
of  life  and  salvation  to  other  countries,  the 
drops  which  fell  from  it  refreslied  and  fer- 
tilized her  own.  Witness  the  present  reli- 
gious situation  of  our  own  country.  Never, 
Ml  the  same  space  of  time,  was  so  much  done 
for  its  amelioration  ;  never  were  tlie  Scrip- 
lures  so  generally  diffused  among  us  ;  never 
were  our  domestic  missions  in  so  prosperous 
a  state  ;  never  were  their  endeavors  crowned 
with  so  much  success,  as  since  we  began  to 
send  Bibles  and  missionaries  to  tlie  heathen, 
(iod  has  been  pouring  out  spiritual  blessings 
upon  our  churches,  our  towns,  our  villages 
and  our  schools ;  and  thus,  for  every  mis- 
sionary whom  we  have  sent  abroad,  he  has 
given  us  ten  to  labor  at  home.  If  we  wish 
to  obtaiii  greater  blessings  of  a  similar  kind, 


RKI.IOIOl'S  CONSISTENCY.  173 


we  must  seek  lliem  in  a  similar  way.  If 
vice  and  infulelily  are  to  be  finally  con- 
quered, and  banished  from  our  country,  the 
battle  must  be  foujjht,  and  the  victory  won, 
on  the  plains  of  India. 


True  cli&rity  receives  her  instructions,  as 
well  as  her  existence,  from  faith  in  God's 
word  ;  and  when  faith  points  to  human  beings 
in  dancjer,  charity,  without  delaying  to  pro- 
pose questions,  hastens  to  their  relief. 


Our  houses  are  built,  our  vineyards  are 
planted,  around  the  base  of  a  volcano. 
They  may  be  fair  and  flourishing  to-day- 
to-morrow,  ashes  may  be  all  that  remains. 
Open  your  hands  wide,  then,  while  they 
contain  anv  blessings  to  bestow  ;  for  of  that 
which  you  give,  you  can  never  be  deprived. 

SEE  THAT  YE  AllOUND  IN  THIS  GRACE 
At.SO. 

Unless  we  strenuously  aim  at  universal 
holiness,  we  can  have  no  satisfactory  evi- 


174 


RELIGIOUS  CONSISTENCY. 


deuce,  thai  we  are  the  servants  of  Christ. 
A  servant  of  Christ  is  one  who  obeys  Christ 
as  his  master,  and  makes  Christ's  revealed 
word  die  rule  of  his  conduct.  No  man,  then, 
can  have  any  evidence  that  he  is  a  servant 
of  Christ  any  further  tlian  he  obeys  the  will 
of  Christ.  And  no  man  can  have  any  evi- 
dence that  he  obeys  the  will  of  Christ  in  one 
particular,  unless  he  sincerely  and  strenu- 
ously aim  to  obey  in  every  particular — for 
the  will  of  Christ  is  one. 


In  consequence  of  their  natural  constitu- 
tion, of  the  circumstances  in  which  they  are 
placed,  or  of  the  absence  of  temptation, 
most  Christians  find  it  comparatively  easy 
to  avoid  some  sins,  to  be  exemplary  in  the 
performance  of  some  duties,  and  to  cultivate 
some  branches  of  the  Christian  temper  with 
success.  One  man,  for  instance,  enjoys 
much  leisure  and  has  a  taste  for  study : 
hence  the  acquisition  of  religious  knowledge 
becomes  easy  to  him.  Another  is  blessed 
with  a  mild  and  amiable  disposition,  and  of 
course  can  regulate  his  temper  without  much 


KKI.IGIOUS  CONSISTKNCV. 


175 


dilTicully.  A  third  is  cnnslilutioiially  liberal, 
and  can  tticrefore  coiiirilmlc  readily  lo  reli- 
gious and  charitable  objccls.  A  fouith  is 
mud  and  rclirin!^,  and  is  for  tliis  reason  little 
tempted  lo  pride,  ambiiion,  or  discontent. 
A  fifth  is  naturally  bold  and  ardent.  Of 
fourse  he  can  easily  overcome  indolence 
and  the  fear  of  man.  In  a  word,  there  are 
very  few  Christians,  who,  for  these  and  other 
similar  reasons,  do  not  in  some  respects 
excel.  Hut  the  evil  is  that  they  are  prone, 
lhou<;h  perhaps  without  being-  sensible  of  it, 
to  attach  an  undue  importance  to  that  grace 
or  duty  in  which  they  excel,  to  make  the 
whole  of  rehpon  cotisisl  in  it.  and  to  neg- 
lect other  Ihiiig^s  of  equal  importance,  the 
performance  of  which  they  would  find  more 
difficult.  Nay,  more;  they  secretly  regard 
the  eminence  which  they  have  attained  in 
some  respects,  as  an  excuse  for  great  defi- 
ciencies in  others ;  and  endeavor  lo  atone 
for  a  neglect  of  self-denying  duties,  by  at- 
tending with  peculiar  zeal  lo  those  duties 
which  are  more  easy. 

One  man,  for  instance,  is  lukewarm  in  his 
affections,  format  in  his  devotions,  aud  makes 


176  Rf:i.IGIOtS  CONSISTENCY. 


lillle  progress  in  subduing  his  sinful  propen- 
sities. Bui  lie  comforls  himsell"  wiih  the 
hope  that  his  know  ledge  of  religious  truth  is 
increasing.  Another,  who  neglects  to  improve 
opportunities  for  acquiring  religious  kuowl- 
ctlge,  derives  consolation  from  the  warmth  of 
his  zeal,  and  the  liveliness  of  his  atTcctions. 
One  person  is  by  no  means  disposed  to  con- 
tribute liberally  for  the  promotion  of  Christ's 
cause  and  the  relief  of  the  poor ;  but  he 
hopes  to  atone  for  his  deficiency  in  this  re- 
spect, by  the  frequency  and  fervency  of  his 
prayers.  Another  neglects  prayer,  medita- 
tion and  communion  with  God,  but  he  quiets 
himself  by  pleading  the  pressure  of  worldly 
business,  and  by  liberal  contributions  for 
religious  and  charitable  purposes.  Thus,  as 
there  are  few  Christians  who  do  not  excel 
in  some  respects,  there  are  few  who  are  not, 
in  some  respects,  exceedingly  deficient. 
Small  indeed  is  the  number  of  tliose  who 
sedulously  strive  to  stand  perfect  and  com- 
plete in  all  the  will  of  God. 


Nothuig  is  more  common  than  to  meet 
with  Christians  who  in  many  respects  are 


RELIGIOUS  CONSISTENCY. 


177 


eminentlj  niid  exemplarily  pious,  but  who, 
by  some  sinful  imprudence  or  defect,  render 
llieir  ciiaraclers  vulnerable,  destroy  all  the 
good  elTecls  of  their  example,  and  dis- 
honor instead  of  adorning  religion.  They 
resemble  a  beautiful  and  well-proportioned 
body,  which  has  been  disfigured  by  a  wound, 
or  which  has  lost  a  limb,  or  some  member  ol 
which  is  disproportionably  large.  While  in 
6ome  respects  they  are  giants,  in  others  they 
are  mere  dwarfs.  Hence  not  only  their  rep- 
utation, but  their  influence,  their  comfort, 
their  usefulness  are  impaired,  and  they 
adorn  religion  less  than  many  others  who 
are  in  many  respects  greatly  their  inferiors, 
but  who  are  more  uniform  and  coiisislent  in 
their  conduct. 


Christ  commands  us,  whether  we  eat  or 
drink,  or  whatever  we  do,  to  do  all  to  the 
glory  of  God.  Perhaps  some  will  ask,  How 
is  this  possible  ?  We  cannot  be  always 
thinking  of  God  ;  we  must  attend  to  our 
business,  provide  for  our  own  wants  and 
those  of  our  families.  True — but  look  at  a 
man  about  to  send  a  sliip  to  a  foreign  porL 
12 


178 


riirtlST  GI-OKIKIKD. 


As  he  purchases  iiis  car^jo,  and  makes  the 
requisite  preparations,  he  considers  vvlial  ar- 
ticles are  most  su'rtable  for  the  market  ;  what 
provisions  most  necessary  for  the  voyage  ; 
how  the  ship  is  to  be  rigged  and  manned ; 
in  short,  all  his  pTans  are  laid  witli  reference 
to  the  end  of  the  voyage.  So  the  Clirislian, 
though  not  atways  thinking  of  heaven,  should 
take  care  that  atl  his  hnsiness  and  all  his 
pleasures  may  forward  his  journey  thither, 
and  promote  his  great  object  of  preparatioii 
for  that  abode  of  blessedness. 


CHRIST  GLORIFIED  IN  HIS  CHURCH. 

When  we  took  at  the  sim,  we  only  per- 
eeive  that  it  is  a  bright  and  glorious  lumina- 
ry. But  when  we  behold  the  earth  in  spring, 
in  summer  or  autumn,  clothed  with  fuxuriant 
vegetation,  adorned  with  (lowers,  and  enli- 
vened bv  myriad's  of  spoctive,  happy  beings  -f 
when  we  compare  this  slate  of  things  with, 
clip  rigors,  the  frost,  the  barrenness  of  winter, 
Becollect  that  the  sim  is,  instrumerflallv,  the 
jause  of  this  mighty  dlfTorence,  and  reflect 
liow  gl  jomy  anvl  desolate  ouj  woil'il  vjoulci 


CIIKIST  GI.OHI  I  I  F.n. 


179 


'.  *   ' 

be,  if  wliolly  deprived  of  ils  hcaiiis  ;  we 

have  far  more  dear  and  eiil.irg-ed  ronrcplions 
of  the  value  and  excellence  of  tliis  luminary. 
The  sun  is  then,  if  I  may  so  express  it,  glo- 
rified in  iho  earth,  and  admired  in  all  ihe 
productions  aud  beneficial  eifecis  which  re- 
sult from  his  influence.  In  a  similar  manner 
will  Christ,  the  Sun  of  rig;liteousncss,  he  g-lo- 
rified  and  admired  in  his  people.  Il  will 
tlien  be  clearly  seen  how  much  mercy  was 
necessary  to  pardon  their  sins,  how  much 
grace  was  required  to  sanctify,  preserve 
and  glorify  them  ;  how  mirch  wisdom,  good- 
ness and  power  were  displayed  in  devising 
and  executing  llie  wondrous  plan  of  their 
redemption.  They  will  not,  therefore,  be 
admired,  but  Christ  will  be  seen  and  admired 
in  them.  The  assembled  universe  will  be 
ready  to  exclaim,  with  one  voice,  How  infi- 
nitely powerful,  wise,  and  good  must  he  be, 
who  could  transform  sinful,  giiilly  worms  of 
the  dust,  into  beings  so  perfectly  glorious 
and  lovely ! 


180      DIRICTIONS  TO  CHRISTIANS. 


MlSCrXLANEOUS  DIRECTIONS  TO 
CHRISTIANS. 

God  commands  aU  men  to  repent. 
Christians  have  enough  to  repent  of  daily ; 
and  if  thoy  are  not  in  a  penitent  frame,  they 
justify  impenitent  sinners. 

Let  your  ?reat  Physician  heal  you  in  his 
own  wav.  Only  follow  his  directions  and 
take  the"  medicine  which  he  prescribes,  and 
Uien  quietly  leave  the  result  with  him. 

What  God  calls  a  man  to  do,  he  will  carry 
him  throu;h.  I  would  undertake  to  govern 
half  a  dozen  worlds,  if  Go.l  called  me  to  do 
it;  but  I  would  not  undertake  to  govern  half 
a  dozen  sheep  unless  God  called  me  to  it. 

To  a  person  who  had  been  frustrated  in  a 
benevolent  design:-"!  congratulate  you, 
and  anticipate  your  eventual  success.  I  do 
not  recollect  ever  to  have  succeeded  in  any 
thing  of  importance,  in  «hich  I  did  not  meet 
with"somc  rebuff,  al  the  commencemeut." 


DIRECTIONS  TO  CHRISTIANS. 


181 


THE  WAT  TO  CURE  A  COVETOUS  SPIRIT. 

Suppose  you  were  to  pass  over  a  pit 
whicli  liad  no  boUom  ;  would  you  endeavor 
to  fill  il  up,  or  bridge  it  over  ? 

Anticipated  sorrows  are  harder  to  bear 
tlian  real  ones,  because  Clirist  does  not  sup- 
port  us  under  them.  In  every  slonyli  we 
may  sec  the  footsteps  of  Christ's  flock  who 
have  gone  before  us. 

Christian  friends,  when  separated  from 
each  other's  society,  may  derive  comfort 
from  the  reflection  that  God  is  able  to  extend 
a  hand  to  two  of  his  children  at  the  same 
lime,  however  remote  may  be  their  places  of 
habitation. 

Every  thing  we  do  or  say  should  be  im- 
mediately tried  by  a  little  court  within  our 
own  breasts.  Our  motives  should  be  exam- 
ined, and  a  decision  made  on  the  spot. 


Our  best  rule  is,  to  give  God  the  same 
p!acc  in  our  liearts,  that  he  holds  in  the  uni- 


ISi.      IliKKtTlONS  TO  CHRISTIANS. 


verse.  We  must  make  liiiii  all  in  all.  We 
should  act  as  if  llisre  were  no  olher  beings 
in  the  universe  but  Got)  and  ourselves. 


As  ihe  eye  which  has  g^zed  at  the  sun, 
caiinol  immedialely  discern  any  oilier  ob- 
ject ;  as  the  man  who  has  been  acmslomed 
to  behold  ihe  ocean,  lunis  wilh  coulcmpl 
from  a  stagnant  pool,  so  the  mind  which  has 
contemplated  eternity,  overlooks  and  de- 
spises the  tilings  of  lime. 

If  at  any  time  you  have  enlargement  in 
prayer  an  i  are  favored  wilh  access  to  the 
throne  of  grace,  do  not  go  away  satisfied 
and  self-complacent.  Pride  says,  "  1  have 
done  very  well  now ;  God  will  accept  this." 
Yon  perhaps  discover  that  this  is  the  sug- 
gestion of  pride ;  it  then  takes  a  new  turn. 
Another  would  not  have  discovered  it  to  be 
pride ;  I  must  be  very  humble  to  see  it  thus. 
Thus  if  vou  continue  the  search,  you  will  find 
pride,  like  the  different  coals  of  an  onion, 
lurking  one  beneath  another  to  the  very 
centre. 


TO  MINISTKHS. 


183 


Praise  Christ  for  every  tiling.  lie  is  tlie 
fouiKlatinii  of  every  good  lli<)U';lit,  desire  aud 
affection.  It  should  lie  our  aim  to  draw  all 
we  can  from  him  by  prayer,  aud  return  him 
all  we  can  by  praise. 

o  de.^th;  where  is  thy  sting? 

The  power  of  death,  the  last  enemy,  is 
■destroyed,  as  it  respects  all  who  believe  in 
Christ.  Instead  of  being  tlie  jailer  of  hell 
and  llie  grave,  he  is  now,  as  it  respects 
Christ's  people,  the  porter  of  paradise.  All 
he  can  now  do  is  to  cau«e  them  to  sleep  in 
Jesus,  release  their  immortal  spirits  fiom  the 
fetters  which  bind  them  to  earth,  and  deposit 
their  weary  bo<lios  in  the  tomb,  as  a  place 
of  rest,  till  Christ  comes  at  the  last  day,  lo 
raise  them  incorruptible,  glorious,  and  im- 
mortal ;  and  reunite  tlicm  lo  their  souls  in  a 
stale  of  perfeci,  never-ending  felicity. 

TO  THE  MINISTERS  OF  CHRIST. 


Every  benevolent  person  is  gratified  by 
being  made  the  bearer  of  pleasing  inlelli- 


184. 


Tl)  MINISTKHS. 


geiicc.  The  messenger,  who  is  commis- 
sioiieil  lo  open  ihe  prison  doors  of  an  insol- 
vent (!el>lor,  or  pardoned  criminnl,  and 
restore  him  to  Ihe, embraces  of  his  family; 
the  officer,  wlio  is  sent  by  his  commander  in 
chief  to  carry  home  tidings  of  an  important 
victory  ;  and  still  more  the  ambassador,  who 
is  appointed  lo  proclaim  pardun  and  peace, 
in  his  sovereign's  name,  to  conquered  rebels  ; 
thinks  himself,  and  is  thought  by  others,  to 
have  received  no  common  favor.  Should 
God  put  into  your  hands  the  wonder-working 
rod  of  Moses  ;  should  he  commission  and 
enable  you  lo  work  miracles  of  beneficence, 
to  enrich  Ihe  poor,  lo  comfort  the  miserable, 
lo  restore  siglit  to  the  blind,  hearing  lo  the 
deaf,  health  lo  the  diseased,  and  life  lo  the 
dead ;  you  would  esteem  it  a  favor  and 
honor,  incomparably  greater  than  earthly 
moiiarchs  can  bestow.  I?ut  in  committing 
the  go.spel  to  your  care,  God  has  conferred 
on  vou  honors  and  favors,  compared  with 
which,  even  the  power  of  working  miracles 
is  a  trifle.  He  has  put  into  your  hands  the 
cross  of  Christ,  an  instrument  of  far  greater 
•efficacy  than  the  rod  of  Moses.    He  has 


TO  MI.N'ISTKUS. 


m 


sent  vou  to  proclaim  the  most  jovt'iil  tidinjrs 
that  heaven  can  desire,  or  llial  earth  can 
hear.  He  has  sent  you  to  preach  deliver- 
ance to  captives,  the  recovery  of  siglil  to 
the  blind,  llie  balm  of  Oilead  and  the  great 
Physician  to  the  spiritually  woimded  and 
disease<l,  salvation  to  the  self-destroyed, 
and  everlasting  life  to  the  dead.  In  a  word, 
he  connnissions  and  ena!)les  them  to  work 
miracles,  not  upon  the  bodies,  bnt  upon  the 
souls  of  men  ;  miracles  not  merely  of  power, 
but  of  grace  and  mercy  ;  miracles,  to  perform 
which,  an  angel  would  think  himself  highly 
honored,  in  being  sent  down  from  heaven  ; 
miracles  from  the  performance  of  which  it 
is  difficult  to  say  whether  greater  glory  re- 
dounds to  God,  or  greater  happiness  to  man. 
Well  then  may  every  minister  of  Ctirisl  ex- 
claim with  Paul,  I  thank  my  God  for  that 
he  counted  me  faithful,  putting  me  into  the 
ministry. 

Though,  in  committing  the  gospel  to  Iheir 
Inst,  God  has  conferred  on  ministers  the 
greatest  honor  and  favor  which  can  be  given 
to  mortals,  yet,  like  all  other  favors,  it  brings 


HKA  Vl'.N. 


witli  it  a  great  increase  of  rpspoiisibility. 
Rcinembcr  lhat  the  more  higlily  any  one  is 
exalted,  ill  tliis  respect,  the  more  difficult  it 
becomes  to  stand,  and  the  more  dangerous 
il  is  to  (all.  He  who  falls  from  a  pulpit  sel- 
dom stops  short  of  the  lowest  abyss  in  hell. 

HAPPINESS  OF  HKAVEN. 

Only  to  be  permitted  to  contemplate  sucb 
a  being  as  Jehovah,  to  see  goo<lncss,  holi- 
ness, justice,  mercy,  long-suffering  and 
iovcreignty  personified  and  condensed  ;  to 
sec  them  united  with  elt  rnily,  infinite  power, 
tinerring  wisdom,  omnipresence  and  all 
sufficiency;  to  see  all  these  natural  and 
moral  perfections  iiidissolubly  united  and 
-)lended  in  sweet  harmony  in  a  pure,  spirit- 
lal  being,  and  that  being  placed  on  the 
'.hrone  of  the  universe ; — I  say  to  see  this 
would  be  happiness  enous^h  to  fill  the  mind 
of  anv  creature  in  exislence.  But  in  ad- 
dition to  this,  to  have  this  ineffable  being  for 
our  God,  our  portion,  our  all  ;  to  be  permit- 
ted lo  say,  This  God  is  our  God  forever  and 
ever ;  to  have  his  resplendent  countenance 


H  K.A  V  KN. 


187 


smile  upon  us  ;  to  be  encircled  in  liis  cvF.-;a«l- 
in^arms  ofjiovver,  and  (;iiiliruhiess,  and  !ovc, 
to  hear  his  voice  saying  to  us,  1  am  vours,  and 
you  arc  mine  ;  iiotliins^  sliall  ever  pluck  you 
from  my  hands,  or  separate  you  from  my 
love,  liut  you  shall  be  with  me  where  1  am, 
behold  my  glory,  and  live  to  reign  with  me 
forever  and  ever ;  this  is  too  much  ;  it  is 
honor,  it  is  glory,  it  is  happiness  too  over- 
whehiiing,  loo  transporting  for  mortal  minds 
to  conceive,  or  for  mortal  frames  to  support; 
and  it  is  perhaps  well  for  us  that  here  we 
know  hut  in  part,  and  that  it  dolh  not  yet  ap- 
pear what  we  shall  be.  O  then,  in  all  cir- 
cumstances, under  all  inward  and  outward 
aflliclions,  let  God's  Israel  rejoice  in  their 
Creator,  let  the  children  of  Zion  be  joyful  in 
their  King. 

You  have,  doubtless,  often  observed  that 
when  your  minds  have  been  inlcnily  tJid 
pleasingly  ^occupied,  you  have  become  _al- 
most  unconscious  of  the  flight  of  lime ; 
minutes  and  hours  have  flown  away,  with, 
apporonilv,  unusual  swiAncss,  and  the  set- 
ling  or  rising  sun  has  surprised  you,  long 


138 


HKA  VE.V. 


before  you  expected  its  approach.  But  in 
heaven,  ilic  saints  will  be  entirely  lost  and 
swallowed  up  in  God  ;  and  llieir  minds  will 
be  so  completely  absorbed  in  llie  contcnipla- 
lion  of  his  ineffable,  infinite,  uncroaled  glo- 
ries, that  Ihey  will  be  totally  unconscious 
how  lime.  or.  rather,  how  elcrn'ly  passes; 
and  not  on!v  years,  but  millions  of  a^es, 
such  as  we  call  ajcs,  will  be  flown  ere  iliey 
are  aware.  Thus,  a  thousand  years  will 
seem  to  them  but  as  one  day,  and  yet  so 
great,  so  ecstatic  will  be  their  happiness, 
that  one  <lay  will  be  as  a  ihousnnd  years. 
And  as  there  will  be  nothing  lo  interrupt 
inem,  no  bodily  wants  lo  call  off  their  atten- 
tion, no  weariness  to  compel  ihem  lo  rest, 
BO  vicissitude  of  seasons  or  of  day  and  nfghl 
to  disturb  their  contemplations;  it  is  more 
than  possible  that  innumerable  ages  may 
pass  away,  before  ihey  think  of  asking  how 
.cng  tlioy  have  been  in  heaven,  or  even  be- 
fore llicv  are  conscious  that  a  single  hour 
has  elapsed. 

How  oflen,  Christians,  have  your  hearla 
been  made  to  bum  with  love,  and  grat- 


HKA  VKN. 


189 


itude,  am!  adiniration,  and  joy,  wliile  Clinst 
has   opened  lo  you  llie  Scf-pmres,  and 
caused  you  lo  know  a  little  of  lliat  love, 
which  passeth  knowledge  !    How  often  has 
one  transient  glimpse  of  the  light  of  God's 
countenance  turned  your  night  into  day, 
banished  your  sorrows,  supported  you  under 
heavy  afflictions,  and  caused  you  lo  rejoice 
with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory  !  Oh, 
then,  what  must  it  be  to  escape  forever  from 
error,  and  Ignorance,  and  darkness,  and  sin, 
into  the  region  of  bright,  unclouded,  eternal 
day;  to  see  your  God  and-  Redeemer,  face 
to  face;  continually  to  contemplate,  w'.th  im- 
mortal slrengd),  glories  so  dazzlingly  bright, 
that  one   moment's  view  of  them  would 
now,  like  a  stream  of  lightning,  turn  your 
frail  bodies  into  dust;  to  see  the  eternal 
volume  of  the  divine  counsels,  the  mighty 
map  of  the  divine  mind,  unfolded  to  your 
eager,  piercing  gaze  ;  to  explore  the  heights 
and  depths,  the  lengths  and  breadths  of  the 
Redeemer's  love,  and  still  to  sec  new  woD- 
ders,  glories  and   beauties   pouring  upon 
your  minds,  in  constant,  endless  succession, 
calling  forth  new  songs  of  praise ;— songs  in 


1;)0      A  JKWKL  FOR  VOUR  CliUWN. 


*!iic  li  you  will  unite,  not,  as  now,  w!ili  mor  - 
tal coni|)anions  and  mortal  voices,  but  with 
the  iniiumeral)le  choir  of  angels,  with  the 
countless  myriads  of  the  redeemed,  all 
shouting  with  a  voice  like  the  voice  of  many 
waters,  Alleluia,  for  the  Lord  God  omnip- 
otent reig-nclli ! 


The  following  anecdotes  are  extracted 
from  the  Religious  Magazine. 

One  day,  he  went  to  visit  a  mother,  who 
was  disconsolate  from  the  loss  of  a  child. 
Me  said  to  her  as  follows:  — 

"  Suppose,  now,  some  one  was  making  a 
heauliful  crown  for  you  to  wear;  and  you 
Knew  it  was  for  you,  and  that  you  were  to 
receive  it  and  wear  it  as  soon  as  it  should 
De  done.  Now,  if  the  maker  of  it  were  to 
come,  and,  in  order  to  make  the  crown  more 
Deautiful  and  splendid,  were  to  take  some  of 
your  jewels,  to  put  into  it, — should  you  be 
sorrowful  and  unhappy,  because  they  were 
taken  away  for  a  little  while,  when  you 
knew  thry  were  gone  to  make  up  your 
eroivn  ?'' 

The  mother  said,  that  no  one  could  con- 


THE  DOUBTING   COMFORTKD.  191 


ceive  of  llie  relief,  ihe  sootliiiig,  quieting 
influence  wliich  this  comparison  had  on  her 
mind. 


On  another  occasion  he  went  (o  see  a  sick 
person,  who  was  very  much  troubled,  be- 
cause she  could  not  keep  her  mind  all  the 
lime  fixed  upon  Christ,  on  account  of  the 
distracting'  influences  of  her  sufferings,  and 
the  various  objects  and  occurrences  of  the 
sick  room,  which  constantly  called  off  her 
alleiilion.  She  was  afraid  she  did  not  lovo 
her  Savior,  as  she  found  it  so  difficult  to  fix 
her  mind  upon  him.    Dr.  Payson  said, — 

"  Suppose  you  were  to  see  a  little  sick 
cliild,  lying  in  its  mother's  lap,  with  its  fac- 
ulties impaired  by  its  sufferings,  so  that  it 
was,  generally,  in  a  troubled  sleep  ;  but 
now  and  then  it  just  opens  its  eyes  a  little, 
and  gets  a  glimpse  of  its  mother's  face,  so 
as  to  be  recalled  to  the  recollection  that  it 
is  in  its  mother's  arms  ;  and  suppose  that 
always,  at  such  a  time,  it  should  smile  faint- 
ly with  evident  pleasure  to  find  where  it  was, 
— should  you  doubt  whether  that  child  loved 
its  mother  or  not  ?" 


_  t 

1'J2  THK   WOUNDKD  DOVK. 

The  poor  suHcrrr's  doubts  and  despond, 
ency  were  gone  in  a  moment. 

A  "-cnllemnn,  wlio  saw  and  conversed 
with  Dr.  Payson  in  Boston,  when  lie  visited 
this  city,  towards  the  latter  part  of  his  life, 
was  led,  by  his  preaching  and  conversation, 
to  a  considerable  degree  of  serious  concern 
for  his  soul.  His  wife  was  still  in  a  great 
measure  indilVcrent  to  the  subject.  One 
day,  meeting  her  in  company,  he  said  to 
her, — 

"Madam,  I  think  your  husband  is  looking 
upwards,— making  some  efiort  to  rise  above 
the  world,  towards  God  and  heaven.  You 
must  not  let  him  Iry  alone.  Whenever  I 
see  the  husband  struggling  alone  in  such 
efforts,  il  makes  me  think  of  a  dove,  en- 
deavoring to  fly  upwards,  while  il  has  one 
broken  wing.  It  leaps  and  flutters,  and 
perhaps  raises  itself  a  little  way,  and  then 
it  becomes  wearied,  and  drops  back  again 
lo  the  ground.  If  both  wings  co-operate, 
then  it  mounts  easily." 


i 


